Marking the 3rd Anniversary of Uyghur Genocide Recognition Day
December 9th, 2024
On this solemn Uyghur Genocide Recognition Day we honour the memory of Uyghur Muslims who have perished and stand in solidarity with the millions who continue to endure unimaginable suffering under the Chinese government’s campaign of genocide and crimes against humanity. This day reminds us of the atrocities committed and the moral and legal obligations to act decisively in the face of such grave violations.
The atrocities in East Turkistan have been thoroughly documented by international tribunals, human rights organizations, and the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. Millions of Uyghurs have been subjected to mass detentions, forced labour, family separations, gender-based violence, and the systematic destruction of their cultural and religious heritage. Families have been torn apart, children forcibly taken to state-run facilities, and women subjected to forced sterilization and birth control—all in a calculated effort to erase Uyghur identity.
Millions of Uyghurs remain arbitrarily detained, including Canadian citizen Huseyin Celil, a Uyghur rights activist imprisoned in China since 2006. Others, like Idris Hasan, face prolonged detention under dubious charges; Hasan, a Uyghur activist, has been held in Morocco since 2021, fighting extradition to China where he risks torture and arbitrary detention. Survivors and whistleblowers risk everything to expose the truth, yet much of the world’s leadership has yet to translate words into meaningful action.
Despite this overwhelming evidence, including the Uyghur Tribunal’s landmark 2021 judgment confirming genocide, the response from the international community has fallen woefully short. While Canada’s parliament enacted targeted measures like sanctions under the Special Economic Measures Act against Chinese officials responsible for abuses, as well as a general prohibition on importing goods produced by forced labour, these steps must be strengthened and enhanced. As the atrocity continues to evolve in both scale and methods, Canada’s measures must be concrete and enforceable to address the ongoing genocide and provide tangible support to Uyghur communities.
Genocide is not a relic of the past; it is an urgent crisis of the present. On this day, we reaffirm our commitment to the principles enshrined in the Genocide Convention, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and Canada’s longstanding legacy of championing human rights. Justice For All Canada calls on all governments, international organizations, and civil society to move beyond condemnation of the Uyghur genocide and to take actionable steps to protect Uyghur lives, lands, faith, culture, and dignity.
Since 2020, Justice For All Canada's Save Uyghur campaign has stood in solidarity with Uyghur leaders and advocates, amplifying their calls for justice and accountability in response to the ongoing genocide in East Turkistan. Through advocacy and coalition-building, the campaign has supported significant milestones, including Canada’s historic recognition of the Uyghur genocide in 2021—a result of tireless efforts by Uyghur leaders and rights organizations. Justice For All Canada has further contributed to sanctions targeting Chinese officials complicit in atrocity crimes and advocated alongside Uyghur voices for Canada’s diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Winter Olympics.
On this solemn Uyghur Genocide Recognition Day we honour the memory of Uyghur Muslims who have perished and stand in solidarity with the millions who continue to endure unimaginable suffering under the Chinese government’s campaign of genocide and crimes against humanity. This day reminds us of the atrocities committed and the moral and legal obligations to act decisively in the face of such grave violations.
The atrocities in East Turkistan have been thoroughly documented by international tribunals, human rights organizations, and the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. Millions of Uyghurs have been subjected to mass detentions, forced labour, family separations, gender-based violence, and the systematic destruction of their cultural and religious heritage. Families have been torn apart, children forcibly taken to state-run facilities, and women subjected to forced sterilization and birth control—all in a calculated effort to erase Uyghur identity.
Millions of Uyghurs remain arbitrarily detained, including Canadian citizen Huseyin Celil, a Uyghur rights activist imprisoned in China since 2006. Others, like Idris Hasan, face prolonged detention under dubious charges; Hasan, a Uyghur activist, has been held in Morocco since 2021, fighting extradition to China where he risks torture and arbitrary detention. Survivors and whistleblowers risk everything to expose the truth, yet much of the world’s leadership has yet to translate words into meaningful action.
Despite this overwhelming evidence, including the Uyghur Tribunal’s landmark 2021 judgment confirming genocide, the response from the international community has fallen woefully short. While Canada’s parliament enacted targeted measures like sanctions under the Special Economic Measures Act against Chinese officials responsible for abuses, as well as a general prohibition on importing goods produced by forced labour, these steps must be strengthened and enhanced. As the atrocity continues to evolve in both scale and methods, Canada’s measures must be concrete and enforceable to address the ongoing genocide and provide tangible support to Uyghur communities.
- We call on the Canadian government to deepen its commitment by implementing stronger and more effective legislation to prevent the import of goods linked to forced labour.
- Canada must advocate for the immediate release of detainees, especially Huseyin Celil, and offer refuge to those fleeing persecution.
- Canada must also lead efforts through the Foreign Interference Commission to establish protections for Uyghur diaspora communities facing transnational repression.
Genocide is not a relic of the past; it is an urgent crisis of the present. On this day, we reaffirm our commitment to the principles enshrined in the Genocide Convention, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and Canada’s longstanding legacy of championing human rights. Justice For All Canada calls on all governments, international organizations, and civil society to move beyond condemnation of the Uyghur genocide and to take actionable steps to protect Uyghur lives, lands, faith, culture, and dignity.
Since 2020, Justice For All Canada's Save Uyghur campaign has stood in solidarity with Uyghur leaders and advocates, amplifying their calls for justice and accountability in response to the ongoing genocide in East Turkistan. Through advocacy and coalition-building, the campaign has supported significant milestones, including Canada’s historic recognition of the Uyghur genocide in 2021—a result of tireless efforts by Uyghur leaders and rights organizations. Justice For All Canada has further contributed to sanctions targeting Chinese officials complicit in atrocity crimes and advocated alongside Uyghur voices for Canada’s diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Winter Olympics.