urap news oct-nov 2023
URAP NEWSLETTER – OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2023
Press releases:
OCTOBER 6 – URAP statement on the International UN-recognised Cotton Day
NOVEMBER 2 – URAP celebrates IRCC announcement on levels plans and its commitment to M-62
News:
In October-November, we worked on many pressing issues, namely:
· October 1 “celebrations” took place across Canada to protest the PRC’s occupation of East Turkistan on OCT 1, 1949. This one is from Toronto Chinese General Consulate
· URAP took place at MacDonald Laurier yearly Roundtable Discussion together with Hong-Kong, Tibetan groups on October 2
· URAP trained young Uyghur-Canadian staff are helping with the documentation processing (translation, filling out forms, Q&A follow-ups and email exchanges) with the potential applicants the M62 campaign initiative
· On October 13, URAP ED Mehmet Tohti participated in the full day-long consultation session with various government stakeholders addressing the Uyghur Forced Slave Labour
· URAP’s Project Coordinator Kayum Masimov participated online conference focused on the Uyghur Forced Slave Labour on October 21
· URAP continued its cooperation with the numerous stake-holders to proceed swiftly with the M62 project. (On you left URAP ED Mehmet Tohti with MP Salma Zahid, Chair of the Immigration Committee of the Parliament, October 14 meting)
· URAP team took place at the annual CIJA conference on October 17, where meetings with several MPs and the heads of NGOs took place
· URAP team met with Hong-Kong Watch team members in Ottawa and discussed strategies on joint efforts addressing the Uyghur Forced Slave Labour, the Transnational repression and the Foreign [CHINA] Interference in Canada.
· URAP continued its documentary filming projects
· URAP is cooperating with various US-based NGOs on strengthening the Uyghur Forced Labor products importation ban to Canada under the CUSMA agreements (CAN-US-MEX free trade agreement).
· URAP team met with the office of the IRCC (Ministry of Immigration) at the office of the Deputy Minister Chris Fox to discuss work schedule for the implementation of the M-62 Motion (resettlement of the ten thousand Uyghur and other Turkic Muslims)
· URAP ED Mehmet Tohti met with the Minister of Immigration Hon. Marc Miller and his Deputy Minister Madame Chris Fox in the Parliament. Topics included among other the M62 resettlement initiative. (On your right)
· URAP’s documentary filming on several subjects like M62, advocacy and awareness-raising campaigns in Canada is ongoing.
· Our Executive Director Mehmet Tohti participated at Tokyo International Uyghur Summit where he presented URAP and distributed a compilation book of the Legal Advocacy performed in Canada to the international scholars, experts and activists (October 30-31). Tokyo declaration was adapted upon the successful completion of the Forum.
· While in Japan URAP Executive Director Mehmet Tohti met with madame Akie Abe, the wife of the late Premier-Minister Shinzo Abe and shared his condolences for the late former Prime minister passing. Mr. Abe served as the Head of the Uyghur-Japanese Parliamentary Friendship Group. Mr Mehmet Tohti briefed Mrs. Abe on the dire situation of the Uyghur refugees and on the China’s transnational repression targeting Uyghur refugees around the globe"
· On November 17 to 19, a high-level delegation of the Uyghur activists (WUC, URAP) will be attending the Halifax International Security Forum upon the invitation of the later. This forum will be brining together the leading experts on the subject of the International Security to discuss global implications and developments of the current affairs.
We wish all the best for the Uyghur delegation to represent the plight of the East Turkistan at it!
Media compilation (Some of URAP’s interviews, mentions made in October):
“Mehmet Tohti, executive director of the Uyghur Rights Advocacy Project (URAP), says the reality of foreign intimidation outlined in the report resonates with the experience of the Uyghur community in Canada” https://www.newcanadianmedia.ca/report-calling-for-action-on-foreign-intimidation-gets-backing-from-diaspora-communities
“As a Uyghur Muslim leader and a Christian human rights advocate, we are speaking out in support of our Jewish friends and the worldwide Jewish community” https://www.thestar.com/opinion/contributors/antisemitism-and-the-celebration-of-war-crimes-have-no-place-in-canada/article_5defdad1-0d6b-532d-949f-ee85875a3536.html
“A report calling on the federal government to step up efforts to protect immigrants, including refugees, from foreign intimidation has been backed by nine groups from different diaspora communities in Canada” https://ca.news.yahoo.com/report-calling-action-foreign-intimidation-203258513.html?guccounter=1
“Uyghur and Tibetan advocacy groups joined forces to organize a joint parliamentary event on Parliament Hill, shedding light on the shared challenges faced by the Uyghur and Tibetan communities” https://canadatibet.com/uyghur-and-tibetan-advocacy-groups-unite-on-parliament-hill-to-highlight-collective-struggles
A comprehensive, 166-pages long study on the Transnational Repression published by legal scholars and URAP councils David Matas and Sarah Teich. The full text can be read here -
The Uyghur Rights Advocacy Project (URAP), a Canada-based Uyghur rights group, issued a statement: “The Uyghur Rights Advocacy Project (URAP) condemns in the strongest terms possible the barbaric attacks by Hamas terrorists on innocent Israelis this past weekend”
https://uyghurtimes.com/uyghur-groups-condemn-hamass-terror-attacks-on-israeli-civilians/
CORE’s announcement on Zara Canada Inc. https://toronto.citynews.ca/2023/11/06/zara-canada-being-investigated-by-ethics-watchdog-over-alleged-links-to-forced-labour/ “Zara is the eighth company the ombudsperson has investigated for using Uyghur forced labour in its supply chain. Other companies it has looked into include Ralph Lauren Canada LP, Walmart Canada, Hugo Boss Canada Inc., Diesel Canada Inc. and mining company Gobi Man and says more assessments will be made public in the coming weeks
This discovery about seafood and the reach of the labour-transfer program,” said Sarah Teich, a lawyer who deals with Uyghur labour issues, “ties the Uyghur abuses to consumers globally.” https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-chinese-seafood-plants-forced-uyghur-labour/
Mehmet Tohti to Uyghur Radio on M62 initiative https://www.facebook.com/share/p/UWUstNH9ai74Tvuz/?mibextid=Na33Lf
What can you do this week?
URAP is non-profit organization advocating on behalf of Uyghur and other Turkic-speaking people of East Turkistan currently facing the ongoing Genocide. We need broad support of public just like you to continue our advocacy and awareness-raising efforts in Canada and globally. Consider to DONATE and support our activities such as ongoing M62 campaign among other initiatives.
Upcoming Events:
· URAP will continue its advocacy and awareness-raising campaign on several legislative initiatives such as addressing the elimination of the Forced Slave Uyghur Labor-tainted merchandise in the Canadian Supply Chains. FIRA (or its equivalent), The “Clean University” Initiative, resettlement M62 initiative and more…
· URAP is planning December “Allies combatting Uyghur Forced Labour: Canada as a crossorads” Parliamentary Event addressing the Uyghur Forced Slave Labour-tainted imports in the Canadian Supply Chains. This event will be sponsored by the Parliamentarian Uyghur Friendship Group (UFG) and bring together US, Canadian lawmakers, experts and researchers. The date and location to be confirmed soon.
December 07 (Thursday), 2023 9:00 – 10:45 am