World Uyghur Congress and Human Rights Groups Urge UN Action on Xinjiang Abuses

The World Uyghur Congress, along with several human rights organizations, expressed concerns about the human rights situation in Xinjiang, China. They called on the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, to provide updates on measures taken to address these issues.

Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, the International Service for Human Rights, and the World Uyghur Congress emphasized the need for the UN High Commissioner to act following a landmark report in August 2022. This report concluded that the actions of the Chinese government in Xinjiang might constitute crimes against humanity.

Despite international calls for action and ongoing advocacy efforts, there has been a lack of substantive follow-up and accountability from both the High Commissioner’s office and UN member states. The World Uyghur Congress urged the UN High Commissioner to provide detailed updates on efforts to prevent atrocities and seek accountability, especially as the second anniversary of the report approaches.

Elaine Pearson, Asia director at Human Rights Watch, stated, “The publication of the UN human rights office’s report was a landmark moment for highlighting the gravity of human rights violations in Xinjiang.” She added, “Now it’s up to the UN high commissioner to make full use of that report to improve the situation for Uyghurs and other Turkic Muslims in Xinjiang.”

China’s actions in Xinjiang have sparked global condemnation for their treatment of Uyghur Muslims and other ethnic minorities. Reports from organizations like Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch document human rights abuses, including arbitrary detention, forced labor, and suppression of cultural and religious practices.