URAP Statement on International Genocide Remembrance Day/Uyghur Genocide Recognition Day
December 9, 2022
Uyghur Rights Advocacy Project (URAP) is issuing this statement in commemoration of today’s International Genocide Remembrance Day, also designated by the Uyghur diaspora as Uyghur Genocide Recognition Day.
On behalf of the Uyghur-Canadian community, URAP is calling on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and like-minded nations to take immediate action to end the Chinese government’s human rights atrocities against the Uyghur people, which are internationally recognized to constitute crimes against humanity and genocide.
“All state parties to the Geneva Convention, the Genocide Convention and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, including Canada, have failed to uphold their legally binding international obligations to prevent the Uyghur genocide, prosecute the perpetrators and help the genocide victims. We cannot allow the principle of rule of law turned into the law of rules when it comes to China’s genocidal crimes. Collective action is needed more than ever to stop the Chinese government from continuing to commit genocidal policies against the Uyghur people,” said URAP’s Executive Director Mehmet Tohti.
Exactly one year ago, the Uyghur Tribunal announced its verdict that the Chinese government has committed genocide and crimes against humanity against Uyghurs. Following the verdict, resolutions were passed by French, Irish, and European parliamentary bodies. The Uyghur Tribunal remains the most important legal assessment of the Uyghur human rights crisis, as well as the most comprehensive body of evidence to date.
The Uyghur genocide has also prompted an increasingly strong response from UN bodies and human rights experts. Following the long-awaited assessment by the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), 50 UN Member States issued a joint statement condemning the atrocities. On November 24th, the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) issued a strong determination calling on China to release all detainees, cease intimidation and reprisals, and fully review its 'national security' and 'counter terrorism' frameworks in East Turkistan.
Nevertheless, the failure to pass a resolution to discuss the OHCHR report at the UN Human Rights Council, and China’s continued disregard for fundamental human rights shows that more needs to be done to end the suffering of the Uyghur people. Governments should urgently introduce slavery and forced labour legislation, impose targeted sanctions, and increase their support for diaspora communities and Uyghur refugees.
On Uyghur Genocide Recognition Day, Uyghurs worldwide reflect on the important achievements that have led to international recognition of the genocide, while also calling for further action, and commemorating the millions of victims affected by China’s cruel and brutal policy both in East Turkistan and abroad.
In addition to today’s International Genocide Remembrance Day, tomorrow, December 10, is International Human Rights Day. We call on Canada to acknowledge its responsibilities under the 1948 UN Genocide Convention and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and take all necessary steps to end the ongoing Uyghur genocide and uphold human rights for Uyghurs and other Turkic Muslims facing these atrocities.
Additionally, the Uyghur-Canadian community stands in solidarity today and tomorrow with the voices of other groups facing genocide, atrocities and human rights abuses across the world. Together, we can deliver a strong message of resistance to tyranny and hope for the future of our peoples.
Signed,
Uyghur Rights Advocacy Project
For all media inquiries:
Kayum Masimov
kayum@urap.ca