Uyghur Genocide Recognition Day: A Call for Justice, Accountability, and Global Awareness
Ottawa, Canada
On December 9th, 2024, the world observes Uyghur Genocide Recognition Day, a day dedicated to acknowledging the ongoing atrocities committed against the Uyghur Muslim population in East Turkistan. This solemn observance seeks to raise global awareness about the systematic persecution, abuse, and violations of human rights faced by the Uyghur people, and to call for justice, accountability, and an end to the Uyghur genocide.
The recognition of this day comes amidst mounting evidence and reports from international human rights organizations, survivors, and government officials confirming widespread violations of the Uyghur people's rights. These include arbitrary detention in concentration camps, forced labour, forced sterilizations, sexual violence, and the destruction of Uyghur cultural and religious heritage. The Chinese government has engaged in a campaign to systematically erase the Uyghur identity, attempting to forcibly assimilate the population and repress their distinct culture, language, and religion.
Key Facts:
Over 1 million Uyghurs have been detained in so-called "re-education camps" under the guise of combating extremism.
Uyghur children have been separated from their families and placed in state-run institutions, where they are subjected to indoctrination and cultural erasure.
Reports of state-imposed forced labour implicate Uyghur detainees in manufacturing goods for global supply chains, often under coercion and without proper compensation through labour transfer and “Poverty Alleviation” programs.
Systematic violence and torture continue to be reported, including forced sterilizations and sexual abuse as part of China’s broader genocidal efforts to reduce the Uyghur population.
The Uyghur Rights Advocacy Project plays a central role in amplifying the voices of Uyghurs. Through advocacy, legal action, and collaboration with global international human rights organizations, URAP works to raise awareness, document violations, and pressure the Canadian government and corporations to take a stand against the Uyghur genocide. Through the M-62 resettlement program, URAP serves as an official referral organization. URAP also conducts in-depth research on critical issues such as transnational repression and foreign interference, which refer to the Chinese government’s extraterritorial efforts to silence Uyghur activists, scholars, and advocates outside of China. This includes intimidation, surveillance, and attempts to undermine the rights of Uyghurs living abroad. Additionally, URAP focuses on forced labour, investigating and raising awareness about the use of Uyghur forced labour in global supply chains. As part of URAP’s mission, the Uyghur Rights Advocacy Project is working tirelessly to ensure that the Uyghur people’s rights are defended, their stories are heard, and justice is pursued on their behalf.
The recognition of Uyghur Genocide Recognition Day is a call to action for governments, organizations, and individuals worldwide to stand in solidarity with the Uyghur people. It is a day to remember those who have suffered and perished due to this ongoing genocide and to honour the resilience of survivors and activists working tirelessly to bring attention to their plight.
What We Demand:
Global recognition of the Uyghur genocide and support for international legal actions against those responsible.
An immediate end to the practices of arbitrary detention, forced labour, and cultural destruction.
Full support for the Uyghur diaspora and survivors, ensuring their safety, freedom, and dignity.
Continued investigation and documentation of the atrocities committed, focusing on bringing justice to those accountable.
On Uyghur Genocide Recognition Day, we stand united in our commitment to truth, justice, and human dignity, and in our refusal to remain silent in the face of genocide. We call on leaders across the world to take meaningful action in recognizing the Uyghur genocide and ensuring that the voices of those affected are heard, honoured, and amplified.
About Uyghur Genocide Recognition Day:
Uyghur Genocide Recognition Day is an annual observance created to raise awareness and advocate for the end of genocide and human rights violations in East Turkistan. It aims to educate the global public about the ongoing plight of the Uyghur Muslim population and to inspire international action toward justice and accountability.
Media Contact:
Mehmet Tohti
Executive Director, Uyghur Rights Advocacy Project (URAP)
mehmet@urap.ca - 613-261- 8512