CALLS FOR ACTION OVER UYGHUR GENOCIDE GROW LOUDER

International pressure is mounting on China over its treatment of the Uyghur population. Human rights organisations are calling for concrete action citing a growing body of evidence of mass atrocities. These may constitute crimes against humanity and genocide. The persecution targets Uyghurs and other Turkic Muslim minorities primarily in China’s Xinjiang region.

Since 2014, the Chinese government has conducted a campaign in the region. It claims this is for counter-terrorism purposes. However, reports detail widespread human rights abuses. These include mass arbitrary detention in so-called “re-education centres”. Over one million people are estimated to have been detained.

Survivors report torture, forced sterilisation, and sexual violence. The campaign is seen as an effort to erase Uyghur culture. This is often described as a cultural genocide.

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A ‘forgotten genocide’

At an event at the UK Parliament earlier this year, speakers condemned the situation and labelled it a “forgotten genocide”. Baroness Helena Kennedy highlighted the international community’s inaction. She stressed that perpetrators are not being held accountable.

Panelists urged the UK government to do more. This includes imposing import bans on goods made with forced labour. The practice is allegedly widespread in Xinjiang’s economy

The UN has also been criticised for its response. A 2022 UN report detailed serious human rights violations. It noted the abuses may amount to crimes against humanity. Yet, critics argue the UN has failed to act decisively.

This inaction draws parallels to the Srebrenica massacre in 1995. There, UN peacekeepers failed to prevent a physical genocide. Experts warn that international indifference risks a “Uyghur Srebrenica“. They describe the situation in Xinjiang as a “cold genocide”. It is a slow erasure of a people’s identity. Without intervention, they fear the genocide will be complete.