Unprecedented United Nations Visit to East Turkestan (Xinjiang) Must End Uighur Muslim Genocide |
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January 29th, 2022
Justice For All Canada welcomes the announcement of a United Nations visit to East Turkestan (Xinjiang), reportedly taking place after the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics.
Ever since 2018, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet has been pursuing a visit to the region. Bachelet’s upcoming visit represents the first official visit to the region by a UN member. We are hopeful the trip will occur without disruption. We call on the Chinese government to allow full, unfettered access to the region, and absolute cooperation to close concentration camps. During a 2020 Canadian Parliamentary hearing, Uighur survivors testified to horrific crimes that took place in these internment centres, including physical and mental torture and widespread forced labour.
Since 2020, our advocacy organization has urged Canada to honour a broken commitment by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to lead a similar investigation into crimes against Uighur Muslims.
In June 2021, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced an international coalition calling on China to allow investigators free access to the region. Unfortunately, this has not occurred, and Canadians haven’t received an update from the Prime Minister on his claim.
Unlike its US and UK allies, the Canadian government has failed to take substantial action to solidify the anti-genocide stance shared by thousands of Canadians concerned about the protection of Indigenous Uighurs.
The UN’s significant visit to East Turkestan, taking place just after the Olympics, also underscores how the “Genocide Games” will continue to proceed in February.
“The International Olympic Committee (IOC) deserves contempt and shame for ignoring ongoing genocide crimes committed by the same government organizing this year’s Winter Games. We human rights defenders in Canada are struggling to come to terms with the ceremony,” said Taha Ghayyur, Executive Director of Justice For All Canada.
Justice For All Canada welcomes the announcement of a United Nations visit to East Turkestan (Xinjiang), reportedly taking place after the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics.
Ever since 2018, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet has been pursuing a visit to the region. Bachelet’s upcoming visit represents the first official visit to the region by a UN member. We are hopeful the trip will occur without disruption. We call on the Chinese government to allow full, unfettered access to the region, and absolute cooperation to close concentration camps. During a 2020 Canadian Parliamentary hearing, Uighur survivors testified to horrific crimes that took place in these internment centres, including physical and mental torture and widespread forced labour.
Since 2020, our advocacy organization has urged Canada to honour a broken commitment by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to lead a similar investigation into crimes against Uighur Muslims.
In June 2021, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced an international coalition calling on China to allow investigators free access to the region. Unfortunately, this has not occurred, and Canadians haven’t received an update from the Prime Minister on his claim.
Unlike its US and UK allies, the Canadian government has failed to take substantial action to solidify the anti-genocide stance shared by thousands of Canadians concerned about the protection of Indigenous Uighurs.
The UN’s significant visit to East Turkestan, taking place just after the Olympics, also underscores how the “Genocide Games” will continue to proceed in February.
“The International Olympic Committee (IOC) deserves contempt and shame for ignoring ongoing genocide crimes committed by the same government organizing this year’s Winter Games. We human rights defenders in Canada are struggling to come to terms with the ceremony,” said Taha Ghayyur, Executive Director of Justice For All Canada.