CFU Press Release
For Immediate Release
October 20, 1:00 p.m. EDT
Contact: contact@campaignforuyghurs.org
www.campaignforuyghurs.org
Campaign for Uyghurs (CFU) conducted a training workshop in Berlin, Germany on October 15th & 16th for youth on Uyghur advocacy. Our attendees were given the opportunity to participate in seminars and activities aimed at improving their advocacy skills, and preparing them to become empowered leaders and spokespersons for the Uyghur cause.
Most trainees were young second-generation Uyghurs in Europe, possessing the valuable advantage of personal connection to the Uyghur struggle, as well as local context and language skills. Ensuring that they are given the proper skills for activism, as well as understanding current events and political contexts, is vital to ending the genocide and advocating for Uyghur human rights and democratic freedoms to be upheld.
Ms. Qelbinur Sidik opened the event by sharing with the young activists about her own experiences as a reminder of why we are all advocating. The workshop included lectures on effective media communication, organizing demonstrations, engaging with the United Nations and other multilateral spaces, and more. CFU was honored to be joined by skilled trainers who gave their time and knowledge to invest in our young leaders. We are exceptionally grateful to Dr. Sophie Richardson, Kelley Currie, Amy Siu, Lucia Parrucci, Abdulhakim Idris, and Zumretay Arkin for their participation.
Executive Director of Campaign for Uyghurs Rushan Abbas said of the workshop, “It is always inspiring to see young people with a passion to be advocates. Watching these Uyghur activists grow over these few days as they develop the skills necessary to combat this brutal genocide has been a privilege. What we are facing often seems to be an insurmountable challenge. With the combined efforts of these activists, and all those around the world who are answering the call to defend their people, we will see this atrocity brought to an end, this genocide stopped, and ultimately Uyghur freedom achieved.”
CFU’s Program Director Babur Ilchi said “These workshops are some of the most important work that Campaign for Uyghurs is engaged in. Our work does not end at the conclusion of these two days, rather, we must continue to walk alongside these young activists on their journey, and to provide them further opportunities to grow and share challenges. It is a traumatic genocide that has brought us to this moment, and it is the voices of these Uyghur youth, and other young allies, that will help to bring us out of it.”
Youth in attendance at the workshop also shared their feedback afterward, with one individual stating that “I’m excited to participate in further workshops.” Others said “Thank you for giving us that special opportunity to learn such helpful and important things! I was very happy to be there and hope we can do something like that again one day” and “It was a great honor to participate in this project and meet you all personally, I am very thankful for these two days.”
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