WUC Alleges Torture Through Family Separation at UNHRC
At the 62nd Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva, the World Uyghur Congress (WUC) presented evidence of China's transnational repression against Uyghur women and families. WUC Vice President Zumretay Arkin addressed the Interactive Dialogue with the UN Special Rapporteur on Violence against Women and Girls, stating that prolonged separation from children and denial of information about their whereabouts can amount to torture.
Uyghur Mothers Face Arbitrary Detention and Travel Restrictions
Arkin highlighted that many Uyghur mothers in Xinjiang have been arbitrarily detained, subjected to travel restrictions, and denied family reunification, leaving families divided for years. She noted that within the Uyghur diaspora, particularly in Turkey, some children have not seen their parents for over eight years due to Chinese authorities' restrictions.
Intimidation Tactics Against Uyghur Women Human Rights Defenders
The WUC representative welcomed the Special Rapporteur's acknowledgment that threats against children are used to silence women exposing human rights violations. According to the WUC, Uyghur women human rights defenders abroad face intimidation through pressure on relatives still in China. Arkin drew parallels with movements like Argentina's Madres de la Plaza de Mayo and Mexico's Madres Buscadoras, placing Uyghur women's experiences within a broader pattern of reprisals against female advocates.
Allegations of Coercive Reproductive Practices
Arkin also raised concerns about alleged coercive reproductive practices targeting Uyghur women, including forced abortions and sterilizations. She noted that the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) highlighted similar concerns in its 2023 concluding observations on China's review.
