UHRP Applauds Passage of Uyghur Policy Act in U.S. House of Representatives
December 1, 2022 | 4:00 p.m. EST
For Immediate Release
Contact: Omer Kanat +1 (202) 790-1795, Peter Irwin +1 (646) 906-7722
The Uyghur Human Rights Project (UHRP) applauds passage of the Uyghur Policy Act in the U.S. House of Representatives today.
“From the bottom of our hearts, we thank the House for passing this bill,” said UHRP Executive Director Omer Kanat. “The deadly Ürümchi fire, which killed at least four children on November 24, demonstrates the brutal Chinese government policies that are causing so many innocent deaths in our homeland. Uyghurs have suffered unbearably under an ongoing genocide for six years.”
The Uyghur Policy Act is the fifth legislative action by the House responding to the genocide, following the Uyghur Human Rights Policy Act (became law June 17, 2020), the Uyghur Forced Labor Disclosure Act (passed June 16, 2021), the Resolution Condemning the Ongoing Genocide Against Uyghurs (passed December 8, 2021), and the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (became law December 23, 2021).
The Uyghur Policy Act (H.R.4785) authorizes a new position within the U.S. government, a Special Coordinator for Uyghur Issues, to coordinate policies, programs, and projects related to Uyghurs, and to support enhanced diplomatic efforts on the Uyghur issue. The bill also supports the creation of a UN Special Rapporteur or Working Group to monitor and report on the situation in East Turkistan.
Speaking in support of her bill, Rep. Young Kim (R-CA) said, “The People’s Republic of China continues to deny carrying out genocide against the Uyghurs and other ethnic groups. This Act will help us lead from a position of strength and equip the State Department with the tools it needs to better respond to Xi Jinping’s genocidal campaign.”
Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) also rose to urge passage of the bill, calling it a “a strong step in our continued work to counter the genocide of the Uyghur people,” and calling attention to the “bipartisan, bicameral, unbreakable” Congressional “commitment to shining a bright light on the persecution of the Uyghurs.”
“The world has watched in horror as the People’s Republic of China continues its genocide and crimes against humanity against Uyghurs and other religious and ethnic groups,” said Rep. Sara Jacobs (D-CA). “We need to do more to protect the millions of Uyghurs and their way of life. This legislation furthers a whole of government approach” to combat the PRC’s “egregious” human rights crimes.
Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) noted during the floor debate that the bill “is particularly timely given the mass spontaneous protests we’re seeing arising in China,” triggered by the “horrific incident” under the draconian lockdown in the Uyghur Region, when at least 10 people were burned to death, with many, many more injuries.”
Read more:
UHRP Supports U.S. Senate Bill to Strengthen Diplomatic Response to Uyghur Crisis, April 8, 2022
UHRP Celebrates Historic Uyghur Bill Signed into Law, December 23, 2021
U.S. Congress Condemns Uyghur Genocide, Gives Hope to Uyghurs Around the World, December 8, 2021
UHRP Hails Unanimous Senate Passage of Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, July 15, 2021
UHRP welcomes Senate legislation to support safe haven for Uyghurs abroad, April 13, 2021
UHRP welcomes House bill to provide Uyghurs safe haven, March 9, 2021