CFU PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 4 2023, 6:00 PM ET
Sabrina Sohail: sabrina@campaignforuyghurs.org
(650) 703-4523
www.campaignforuyghurs.org
Campaign for Uyghurs (CFU) welcomes the resolution passed on December 27th 2022, which the Taiwanese parliament (Legislative Yuan) recognizes that the Chinese government is committing genocide and crimes against humanity against the Uyghur people. The Legislative Yuan is reported to have passed its first cross-party bill.
After the United States State Department recognized the PRC’s crimes as genocide, following similar resolutions by parliamentary bodies in the United Kingdom, Canada, Czech Republic, Belgium, the Netherlands, France, Lithuania, Ireland, and the European Parliament, Taiwan’s Legislative Yuan becomes the first Asian parliamentary body to recognize crimes against humanity and genocide.
CFU’s Honorary Chairman and Secretary-General of the Human Rights Committee of the Legislative Yuan in Taiwan, Wuer Kaixi (Uerkesh Davlet), mentioned in the meeting that the resolution passed by the Legislative Yuan on the 27th can require the executive branch to ban the import of related products similar to the U.S. Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA). This reflects Taiwan’s adherence to and concern for the values of democracy and freedom as well as human rights. In addition, the “Taiwan version” of the “Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act“, which was first adopted by the United States to sanction human rights perpetrators, has been commissioned by the Legislative Yuan. Taiwan may become the first Asian country to pass the Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act. Countries with Human Rights Accountability Act legislation.
Wuer Kaixi emphasized “that so many countries recognize the miserable state of Uyghurs. The whole world can recognize it. Awareness is the first step, and condemnation is the second step. In the end, condemnation will be turned into pressure and a force for change. Hoping one day Uyghurs being free again is our common goal.”
Executive Director Rushan Abbas said, “This is another big step in holding the CCP accountable for the Uyghur genocide. This move that Taiwanese parliament members have made is a brave one considering the tension we have seen between the two countries over this past year. We need more ally and partner governments to uphold the values of freedom and democracy by implementing similar forms of legislation.”
CFU urges other counties in the region to follow suit and build a strong coalition to hold the Chinese regime accountable for their atrocious crimes and support initiatives to not being complicit in the Uyghur genocide.
