URAP News september 2o23

URAP NEWSLETTER – SEPTEMBER  2023 

Press releases:

september 18 – URAP ENDORSES THE RELEASE OF THE RESERCH ON THE TRANSNATIONAL REPRESSION AND FOREIGN INTERFERENCE IN CANADA

SEPTEMBER 28 – UN EXPERT STATEMENT CONFIRMS FORCED ASSIMILIATION AND SEPARATION OF UYGHUR CHILDREN. AS AN ACT OF THE GENOCIDE, THE UN SHOULD NAME THESE CRIMES AS SUCH

SEPTEMBER 29 – URAP JOINS COALITION AGANST FORCED LABOUR IN TRADe

News:

Two major announcements by CORE (Canadian Ombudsperson for Responsible enterprise) were made on September 20, to address forced labour complaints against   Canadian companies.

These two announcements came in addition to CORE’s earlier decision   to launch a probe into multiple enterprises in response to URAP’s complaint filed in April 2022 on behalf of the coalition of 28 organizations, calling on CORE to investigate Canadian companies for their alleged ties with Uyghur forced labour in their supply chain. You can read the CORE’s decision on Levi Strauss Canada.

*  Major social event open for public took place in the past month at Ottawa Uyghur Center. The first-ever MuslimFEST was held in Ottawa and it was at the Uyghur Community Center. The event attracted huge crowds and witnessed the participation of the elected officials where traditional ethnic cuisine was served accompanied by cultural performances and speeches. URAP’s Executive Director Mehmet Tohti addressed the public on behalf of our organisation. Our sincere thanks to organizers for hosting such a successful event!

·        On September 28, a joint Parliamentary Session with CTC (Canada-Tibet Committee) and URAP took place in Ottawa, the five federal MPs representing all political parties of the Parliament addressed audience in-person with more sending their support letters. You can watch URAP’s Executive Director’s address here.

In September, we worked on many pressing issues, namely:

·        URAP team trained young Uyghur-Canadian volunteers to provide support services to the potential applicants under the M62 campaign initiative.

·        URAP continued its cooperation with the numerous stake-holders to make the M62 project feasible and swift.

·        URAP continued its documentary filming project

·        URAP continued working on strengthening the Alliance of Genocide Victim Communities

·        URAP is actively engaged in implementing the M62 (10 thousand refugees’ resettlement into Canada)

·        URAP is cooperating with various US-based NGOs on strengthening the Uyghur Forced Labor products importation ban to Canada under the CUSMA agreements (CAN-US-MEX free trade agreement).

·        URAP’s documentary filming on several subjects like M62, advocacy and awareness-raising campaigns in Canada is ongoing.

Media compilation (Some of URAP’s interviews, mentions made in August):

Sep 7 “Uyghur Rights Advocacy Project v. Canada, 2023 FC 126, the Uyghur Rights Advocacy Project ("URAP") brought an application for judicial review of the acts and omissions of the Government of Canada”  Legal review opinion brought forward by the commentator citing URAP’s legal advocacy https://www.mondaq.com/canada/contracts-and-commercial-law/1363744/forced-or-compulsory-labour-laws-in-canada

Sep 14 - “While the focus thus far has been Uyghur forced labour, it should be kept in mind that CORE’s mandate covers human-rights abuses perpetrated anywhere outside of Canada. We therefore anticipate a wider variety of investigations going forward” https://www.theglobeandmail.com/business/commentary/article-canada-watchdog-corporate-abuses-diesel-hugo-boss-walmart/

Sep  20 – The Globe and Mail  reporting CORE’s decision "Canada’s corporate ethics watchdog has launched an investigation into allegations that Levi Strauss Canada is working with companies that use forced labour in China" https://www.theglobeandmail.com/business/article-corporate-ethics-watchdog-investigating-levi-strauss-over-alleged/

Sept 28 - URAP Executive Director Mehmet Tohti as the Joint Parliamentary Event on September 28, 2023 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EHbSASlqfwY

Sep 28 – “More must be done to tackle forced labour in global trade and supply chains” says new Coalition Against Forced Labour in Trade - URAP joined a new Coalition https://freedomfund.org/blog/caflt/

What can you do this week? 

 URAP is non-profit organization advocating on behalf of Uyghur and other Turkic-speaking people of East Turkistan currently facing the ongoing Genocide. We need broad support of public just like you to continue our advocacy and awareness-raising efforts in Canada and globally. Consider to DONATE and support our activities such as ongoing M62 campaign among other initiatives.

Upcoming Events:

URAP will continue its advocacy and awareness-raising campaign on several legislative initiatives such as addressing the elimination of the Forced Slave Uyghur Labor-tainted merchandise in the Canadian Supply Chains. FIRA (or its equivalent), The “Clean University” Initiative, resettlement M62 initiative and more…

Tokyo Conference – October 30-31