Canada Imposes Sanctions on Chinese Officials over Human Rights Abuses

Ottawa, Canada

The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Canada’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, announced new sanctions under the Special Economic Measures (People’s Republic of China) Regulations. These sanctions target 8 former or current senior officials in China who are implicated in serious human rights violations. The sanctions are a response to the Chinese government’s repression of ethnic and religious minorities, particularly in East Turkistan. This highlights Canada’s commitment to confronting human rights abuses and holding those responsible accountable for human rights violations in East Turkistan and the Uyghur genocide. Additionally, in recognition of International Human Rights Day on December 10, Canada continues to take a strong stance against human rights violations worldwide. The observance of this day serves as a reminder of the ongoing global struggle to uphold and protect human rights for all individuals.

The Special Economic Measures (People’s Republic of China) Regulations are a set of legal measures imposed by Canada to sanction individuals involved in human rights violations in China. The goal of these sanctions is to hold these individuals accountable for their roles in human rights violations, particularly those related to the treatment of ethnic minorities and dissidents in China. These regulations prohibit transactions with listed persons, effectively freezing their assets. The regulations target former or current senior Chinese officials implicated in human rights abuses. The individuals recently added to the list include:

1. Chen Quanguo

2. Tuniyaz Erkin

3. Zakir Shohrat

4. Peng Jiarui

5. Wu Yingjie

6. Liujun Huo

7. Zhang Hongbo

8. You Quan

In response to Canada's announcement, the Uyghur Rights Advocacy Project expresses strong appreciation for the government's decisive action. URAP commends the sanctions, recognizing them as an important step in addressing the grave crimes against the Uyghur people in East Turkistan. These sanctions, which target officials implicated in the ongoing genocide and crimes against humanity in the region, send a clear message of condemnation for the systematic repression, forced labour and cultural suppression faced by the Uyghur population.

These sanctions undoubtedly strengthen Canada’s position in negotiations with the United States, providing Canada with more leverage. However, to ensure sustained progress, the Government of Canada must consider introducing a regional ban on forced labour imports, accompanied by a rebuttable presumption, to effectively address the issue of state-imposed forced labour and goods/ products wholly or in part produced by Uyghur forced labour in Canadian and North American supply chains. This matter continues to arise in our bilateral discussions with the United States, and the government should actively work on introducing a more robust bill in alignment with the Uyghur Forced Labour Prevention Act. Additionally, URAP has pending submissions to Global Affairs Canada to impose sanctions on 16 Chinese individuals and entities. URAP strongly urges the Government of Canada to persist in taking meaningful and decisive action on this critical issue.

Media Contact:

Mehmet Tohti  

Executive Director, Uyghur Rights Advocacy Project (URAP)  

mehmet@urap.ca  - 613-261- 8512