CFU PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 7, 6:00 PM ET
Sabrina Sohail: sabrina@campaignforuyghurs.org
(650) 703-4523
Washington D.C. – As the world marks International Women’s Day on March 8, Campaign for Uyghurs (CFU) is drawing attention to the plight of Uyghur women who are suffering under China’s brutal campaign of ethnic genocide in East Turkistan.
The Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) persecution of the Uyghur people has been widely documented, including reports of forced labor, mass internment, and even torture and execution. However, the specific impact on Uyghur women has received relatively little attention. As such, CFU believes that International Women’s Day presents an opportunity to highlight the unique and devastating effects of the Uyghur genocide on women.
Uyghur women have been subjected to sexual violence, forced sterilization, forced marriage and other forms of gender-based violence in internment camps and detention centers. In addition to physical abuse, they have also suffered psychological trauma from being separated from their families and communities.
CFU founder and Executive Director Rushan Abbas said, “Uyghur women are facing a double the oppression – not only as members of a persecuted ethnic group but also as women who are targeted for gender-based violence. On this International Women’s Day, a day we advocate for women’s rights, fight against discrimination and violence against women, must be the time we stand in solidarity with Uyghur women who are fighting for their dignity and freedom. I urge everyone to speak out against the atrocities being committed by the Chinese government and demand justice for Uyghur women and the millions of victims of the Uyghur genocide.”
CFU calls on the international community, women’s and human rights activists to recognize the severity of the situation in East Turkistan, especially towards Uyghur women and take tangible actions to hold China accountable for its crimes.
CFU is also proud to host and welcome you to a panel discussion for International Women’s Day to raise awareness of the Uyghur genocide and the unique impact it has on women. This event brings together legislators, experts, and activists from different parts of the world to discuss the persecution of Uyghur women, debunk common misconceptions about women’s liberation and reproductive justice, and advocate for women’s rights everywhere.
