The Uyghur Policy Act of 2021 which was introduced by Representatives Kim Young and Ami Bera on July 29, 2021 passed the House of Representatives on December 1, 2022.
The Uyghur Policy Act would:
- Create a Special Coordinator for Uyghur Issues within the State Department;
- Direct the U.S. Agency for Global Media to disseminate information concerning Uyghurs and other minority groups in the XUAR to Islamic majority countries;
- Require the State Department to offer Uyghur language training to Foreign Service Officers and to assign a Uyghur-fluent officer to a U.S. diplomatic or consular mission in China;
- Call on the U.S. Government to develop a strategy, in coordination with like-minded countries, to pressure the PRC to close all detention facilities and push for the immediate release of those detained; and,
- Support U.S. efforts to raise Uyghur issues at the United Nations, including by supporting the appointment of a special rapporteur for the XUAR for human rights violations and abuses.
“Millions of Uyghurs and other ethnic minorities are repeatedly silenced, detained, imprisoned, tortured and brainwashed by the Chinese government each day. Words are not enough to counter the Chinese Communist Party – we need action,” said Representative Kim. “The Uyghur Policy Act equips the U.S. with tools needed to support the basic human rights and distinct identities of Uyghurs and other ethnic minorities in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region subject to the Chinese government’s inhumane treatment. I will continue to firmly push back against the Chinese government’s repeated disinformation, coercion and abuse and support human rights and freedom around the world.”
On the Senate Side, Senator Marco Rubio introduced a companion bill on April 7, 2022. Both the World Uyghur Congress and the Uyghur Human Rights Project welcomed and applauded the passage of the House bill.
