Uyghur Organizations Applaud Uyghur Caucus Co-chair Introduction of UGASA
Apirl 25, 2024
Uyghur Organizations Applaud Uyghur Caucus Co-chair Introduction of UGASA
Washington D.C. — Campaign for Uyghurs (CFU), Uyghur Human Rights Project (UHRP), and Uyghur American Association (UAA) extend their gratitude to Representatives Chris Smith (R-NJ) and Representative Tom Suozzi (D-NY), co-chairs of the Congressional Uyghur Caucus, for their introduction of the Uyghur Genocide Accountability and Sanctions Act (UGASA) (H.R. 8124). This critical legislation broadens existing sanctions on the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and supports the Uyghur diaspora community.
UGASA builds upon the Uyghur Human Rights Policy Act of 2020 by strengthening sanctions against individuals implicated in grave human rights violations reported by Uyghur asylum seekers outside China. These violations include systematic rape, coercive abortion, forced sterilization, and human trafficking for organ harvesting. The act promotes a more comprehensive implementation of sanctions by the executive branch, bars entry into the United States for individuals connected to forced abortions or sterilizations, eliminates existing exemptions for senior officials, and requires public disclosure of cases involving denied entry.
The legislation has notable goals, including providing essential medical and psychological care to survivors of these atrocities. Additionally, the bill allocates funds for cultural preservation initiatives, requires strategies to counter Chinese government propaganda that denies the Uyghur genocide, prohibits federal agencies from doing business with entities involved in forced labor, and mandates a plan to prevent and disrupt forced organ harvesting in China.
Rushan Abbas, Founder and Executive Director of CFU, declared “As the CCP continues its full fledged genocide of the Uyghur people, it’s essential that we respond with innovative approaches to address what is arguably the most critical human rights issue today. We deeply appreciate the tireless efforts and leadership of Uyghur Caucus co-chairs Representatives Chris Smith and Tom Suozzi and the bipartisan bill that was introduced yesterday.”
Elfidar Iltebir, President of the UAA, stated “The introduction of UGASA by the U.S. Congress reaffirms their commitment to prioritizing human dignity over economic andpolitical gains. It sends a powerful global message that officials linked to the Uyghur Genocide must be held accountable, and these crimes against humanity must come to an end.”
Omer Kanat, Executive Director of the UHRP, also provided comment, noting that “The Chinese government has not faced enough consequences for carrying out ongoing genocide and forced labor. Enhanced sanctions and a stronger strategy of deterrence, as this legislation prescribes, are a vital piece of undergirding a commitment from the United States to hold malign actors accountable for human rights atrocities. This bill will also send a clear message to countries around the globe that the United States intends to continue to use all means possible to support the Uyghur people.”
UGASA is a crucial and appropriate response to China’s severe human rights violations and the needs of the Uyghur diaspora community. We encourage our partners to endorse this bill and urge Congress to promptly pass this legislation to impose significant consequences on those accountable for the Uyghur genocide and crimes against humanity.
For media inquiries please contact:
- Sabrina Sohail, Campaign for Uyghurs, sabrina@campaignforuyghurs.org, +1 650 703 4523
- Julie Millsap, Uyghur Human Rights Project, jmillsap@uhrp.org, +1 830 822 7289
- Elfidar Iltebir, Uyghur American Association, elfidar@uyghuraa.org