A Toronto protest co-organized by Justice For All Canada.
Long before the public gave credence to the Uyghur genocide, Justice For All Canada launched strong actions to address disturbing government-committed atrocities against minorities in East Turkistan. Since 2020, our #SaveUyghur campaign has demonstrated a significant advocacy effort that presses for human rights action from the Canadian government. Unlike the US and UK, Canada has trailed behind in banning forced Uyghur labour products, or designating these crimes against humanity a genocide. The work of our #SaveUyghur campaign will continue until our demands for Uyghur Muslim protection and freedom are granted. Highlighted below are select progress indicators and milestones achieved through our campaign.
2020
Historic number of Canadian Parliamentarians Stand for Uyghur Muslims2020 was a significant year for activists campaigning and raising awareness of the atrocities against Uyghur Muslims in East Turkistan. Justice For All Canada was one of few advocacy organizations making a case on behalf of Uyghurs experiencing mass crimes against humanity and ongoing genocide. We communicated with MPs across Canada, building relationships and allowing our concerns about the genocide to be heard. We also launched action alerts that helped Canadians urge their local leaders to raise this issue with the Prime Minister. Justice For All Canada joined anti-genocide coalitions, we co-organized education programs, we launched joint-letters sent to Federal Ministers, and we promoted several parliamentary petitions through our newsletter and social media platforms. Following a strong year of Uyghur actions in Canada, 9 Members of Parliament presented historic petitions calling on the government to recognize the Chinese regime’s actions against Uyghurs as a genocide (September 2020).
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9 MPs petitioned for the security of Uyghurs. A landmark moment for Canada to start pressuring the government to help halt human rights violations against this minority.
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Atrocities Report Published by Canadian Parliament
Throughout the end of 2020, Justice For All Canada worked closely with Uyghur rights coalitions to help inform MPs through action alerts, reports, and personal meetings. As a result, in September 2020 a groundbreaking study published by parliamentary members of Canada’s subcommittee on International Human Rights (SDIR) confirmed that China’s mass concentration camps, forced labour and population control measures met the definition of genocide. The report also served as a critical tool for the Federal government to take seriously multiple evidences and testimonies emerging from East Turkistan.
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Justice For All Canada meets with MP Garnett Genuis to discuss our human rights goals.
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Canada’s UN Representative Demands Investigation into Uyghur Abuses
Canada’s UN representative, Bob Rae, demanded the UN’s Human Rights Council investigate China's persecution of Uyghur Muslims as an act of genocide. His request arrived following the SDIR’s 2020 Parliamentary study, prompted by community-level advocacy and nationwide action alerts. Since 2017, Justice For All Canada has also worked with Bob to push for similar actions regarding the Rohingya genocide. Like the Rohingya, Uyghur Muslims also require swift action, justice and accountability propelled by the Canadian government.
Introduction of Forced Labour Laws in Canada
Justice For All Canada amplified calls to halt supply from forced labour chains involving Uyghur Muslims. We called on the Trade Ministry to increase supply chain transparency and promote responsible business conduct. The Canadian government responded to our demands by first prohibiting imports made under coercion in 2020.
With the support of our coalition partners, we further expressed the importance of ensuring that Canadian companies don’t contribute or financially benefit from Uyghur forced labour. Shortly after in January 2021, Canada introduced 7 comprehensive measures to address human rights abuses against Uyghur Muslims, which include tackling goods produced from forced labour and helping businesses avoid complicity in Uyghur repression;
With the support of our coalition partners, we further expressed the importance of ensuring that Canadian companies don’t contribute or financially benefit from Uyghur forced labour. Shortly after in January 2021, Canada introduced 7 comprehensive measures to address human rights abuses against Uyghur Muslims, which include tackling goods produced from forced labour and helping businesses avoid complicity in Uyghur repression;
- The Prohibition of imports of goods produced wholly or in part by forced labour;
- A Xinjiang Integrity Declaration for Canadian companies;
- A Business Advisory on Xinjiang-related entities;
- Enhanced advice to Canadian businesses;
- Export controls;
- Increasing awareness for Responsible Business Conduct linked to Xinjiang; and
- A Study on forced labour and supply chain risks
2021
Canadian Parliament Recognizes Uyghur Muslim GenocideIn January of 2021, Global Affairs Canada announced new business regulations curbing Canadian companies from being complicit in human rights abuses by using forced labour in Chinese-occupied East Turkistan. These requirements also forbid companies from exporting products that could be used by Chinese authorities for arbitrary detention, repression or surveillance of Uyghurs.
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Executive Director, Taha Ghayyur, speaks to CBC Ottawa about the historic genocide motion that passed in Parliament with a 266-0 vote (February 22nd, 2021). Justice For All Canada worked with volunteers, activists, action-takers and Canadian Uyghur coalitions to petition all MPs to vote in favour of Canada declaring the atrocity crimes against Uyghur Muslims a genocide.
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Sanctions Against Chinese Officials
Throughout our action alerts, federal letters, statements and educational materials, one of our major recommendations includes diplomatic sanctions. We informed MPs that sanctions are efficient methods that send a strong message to China’s communist government. In March 2021, Canada imposed sanctions against 4 Chinese officials and 1 entity for their ongoing role in mass arbitrary detention, torture or cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment, mass surveillance and forced labour of Uyghur Muslim minorities.
Canada’s Olympic BoycottLeading up to the Beijing Winter Olympics, Justice For All Canada raised awareness by amplifying NGO calls for a diplomatic boycott. Together, we argued that due to China’s record of human rights abuses against Uyghur Muslims, the international event should not be hosted in the country responsible for clear ongoing atrocity crimes. As a result of our Olympic boycott calls and awareness building, the Canadian government and allies sent a strong message to the Chinese government by banning Canadian officials from attending the Olympic Games in Beijing. The Prime Minister’s announcement echoed our deep concern over ongoing rights violations against Uyghur Muslims.
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2023
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In February 2023, the House of Commons unanimously adopted Motion M-62, calling on the Government of Canada to expedite the resettlement of 10,000 Uyghur refugees.
This milestone followed sustained advocacy from MP Sameer Zuberi, Uyghur rights advocate Mehmet Tohti, a broad coalition of Members of Parliament, and civil society organizations including our Save Uyghur campaign. Full Statement ➡︎ Canadian Parliament Votes to Bring Uyghurs to Canada Our Toronto Star Op-Ed ➡︎ Urgent resettlement of Uyghur refugees should be a priority for Parliament In 2024, the first Uyghur refugee was welcomed to Canada as part of this initiative. |
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Report Launch: Uncovering Slave Labour in Google’s Supply Chain
In September 2023 we released a report documenting examples of household technology companies such as Google and their use of forced Uyghur Labour in their supply chain.
𝐓𝐡e 𝐩𝐢𝐯𝐨𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐑𝐞𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐬 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐆𝐨𝐨𝐠𝐥𝐞'𝐬 𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐲 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐢𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐔𝐲𝐠𝐡𝐮𝐫 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐄𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐓𝐮𝐫𝐤i𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧. |
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2024
Canadian Company Exposed for Using Uyghur Forced LabourIn April 2024 the Canadian Ombudsperson for Responsible Enterprise (CORE) investigated Dynasty Gold Corps and found the company was using Uyghur labour at a gold mine in East Turkistan (Xinjiang).
CORE found Uyghurs were subjected to forced labour at the ‘Hatu Qi-2’ gold mine, where labour was sourced through Chinese-run corporations sanctioned by Canada due to their involvement in human rights abuses. Uyghur advocacy groups and Justice For All Canada shed light on these egregious violations and advocated the Canadian government to take action. Dynasty Gold Corp is now restricted from trade services and financial support in Canada. |
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2025
Prisoner of Conscience FreedIn February 2025, Idris Hasan, a Uyghur refugee seeking asylum in Morocco, was released after 43 months of detention. Hasan was arrested and taken to a prison after Interpol issued a red notice to member countries seeking his capture.
In 2021, a Moroccan court approved an extradition request by China, putting him at risk of deportation. Human Rights groups successfully intervened and ensured his safe arrival in the United States. Justice For All Canada amplified Idris Hasan’s story to garner community support, including issuing an action alert directed to the Moroccan Ambassador in Ottawa. Canada was eventually among the countries that supported international diplomatic efforts to secure Hasan’s release and prevent his extradition to China. |
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Canada’s Ambassador to China Takes a Stand for UyghursIn June 2025, Canada’s Ambassador to China, Jennifer May, boldly raised critical human rights issues during her recent visit to East Turkestan.
She voiced serious concerns about systematic violations against Uyghur Muslims, particularly restrictions on Uyghur-language education and the disturbing practice of forcibly placing Uyghur children into residential schools. With suggestions and research support from advocacy groups including Justice For All, she called on China to allow UN experts unfettered access to the region. |
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