World Uyghur Congress Urges Finland to Address Uyghur Genocide During China Visit
The World Uyghur Congress (WUC) has called on Finnish leaders to address the ongoing genocide of Uyghurs during their visit to China from October 28 to 31. Finnish President Alexander Stubb and his wife, Suzanne Innes-Stubb, will meet Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing on October 29 to discuss bilateral matters.
The WUC, representing exiled Uyghur groups, urged Finland to prioritize discussions on Uyghur forced labor, in line with the EU’s Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive and the EU Forced Labour Regulation. The organization highlighted China’s dismissal of 30 recommendations from the Universal Periodic Review (UPR), emphasizing the need for Finland to reaffirm its commitment to its own UPR recommendations.
These recommendations focus on protecting human rights for ethnic and religious minorities, including Uyghurs, and align with observations from the OHCHR and UN treaty bodies. Finland has also advocated for the UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief to access China, including East Turkistan.
The WUC acknowledged Finland’s significant relationship with China but urged the country to continue advocating for Uyghur rights and uphold its moral responsibilities despite potential economic pressures.
Doubts Revealed
World Uyghur Congress -: The World Uyghur Congress is an organization that represents the Uyghur people, a minority ethnic group in China. They work to raise awareness about the issues faced by Uyghurs, including human rights abuses.
Uyghur Genocide -: The Uyghur genocide refers to the alleged mass detention and mistreatment of Uyghur Muslims by the Chinese government. Many countries and organizations have accused China of committing human rights violations against the Uyghurs.
Finland -: Finland is a country in Northern Europe. It is known for its beautiful landscapes and high quality of life. In this context, Finnish leaders are visiting China to discuss important issues.
Alexander Stubb -: Alexander Stubb is a Finnish politician who has served in various roles, including as Prime Minister of Finland. In this context, he is mentioned as the Finnish President visiting China.
Xi Jinping -: Xi Jinping is the President of China. He is the leader of the Chinese government and plays a key role in international relations.
EU directives -: EU directives are rules set by the European Union that member countries need to follow. They often cover important issues like human rights, trade, and the environment.
Bilateral matters -: Bilateral matters refer to discussions and agreements between two countries. In this case, it means the topics that Finland and China will talk about during the visit.
