CFU PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 31, 5:30 PM ET
Sabrina Sohail: sabrina@campaignforuyghurs.org
(650) 703-4523
Campaign For Uyghurs (CFU) persists in its call for global action and increased accountability for the escalating human rights crisis in East Turkistan, in light of the solemn 1-year anniversary of the United Nations Human Rights Office (UNHRC)’s report on the assessment of human rights concerns. The UNHRC released this report on August 31, 2022, and concluded that the treatment of Uyghurs and other Turkic Muslim people in XinJiang (East Turkistan), may amount to crimes against humanity.
Despite the publication of this report, little has changed. On this significant milestone, CFU once again calls upon the UNHRC to intensify its efforts and take robust measures against the Chinese government. CFU urges the UNHRC to:
- Establish an independent and transparent mechanism to thoroughly investigate the crimes committed against Uyghurs and other Turkic Muslim communities, ensuring that those responsible are held accountable before international courts. Unfettered access to East Turkistan must be granted to independent investigators in order to thoroughly investigate the ongoing Uyghur genocide. Without unrestricted access, it is nearly impossible to gather accurate information, document human rights violations, and ensure accountability for the perpetrators of these horrific crimes.
- Reinforce the acknowledgment of the grave human rights crisis in East Turkistan and amplify global awareness of the severity of the situation.
- Mobilize the international community, including member states and international organizations, to exert significant diplomatic pressure on the Chinese government for an immediate change in their policies and practices.
- Advocate for the immediate closure of the extrajudicial detention centers and the release of all arbitrarily detained individuals.
- Monitor and publicly report on China’s compliance with international human rights standards and commit to regular briefings and updates regarding the situation in East Turkistan
Executive Director Rushan Abbas said “It is deeply disheartening to see that the international community’s response has fallen short of effectively holding China accountable for the harrowing injustices that persist even after the release of the UNHRC report. For nearly five agonizing years, my own sister has been unjustly detained, serving as a stark reminder of the prolonged suffering that countless families endure. The Chinese government’s genocidal policies, characterized by a web of mass surveillance, arbitrary detentions, forced labor, and systematic cultural assimilation, persist unabated, all while the anticipated consequences remain elusive.”
CFU underlines that the human rights crisis in East Turkistan demands urgent attention from the UNHRC and member states. CFU urges the UNHRC to fulfill its mandate as the guardian of human rights worldwide by protecting the rights and dignity of the Uyghur people.
