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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