The World Uyhgur Congress has officially designated this week  as “Uyghur Week”. In honour of this, several events are being held with WUC delegates, Uyghur human right activists, government officials, legislators and academics from the U.S. and from countries around the world.

This week, from from Monday, May 18 to Tuesday, May 19, the WUC, in conjunction with the National Endowment for Democracy (NED) and the Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organisation (UNPO), is hosting a seminal human rights conference focused on East Turkestan entitled "East Turkestan: 60 Years under Communist Chinese Rule".

Ms. Rebiya Kadeer, Uyghur democracy leader and WUC president, said “Uyghur Week in Washington, DC is a milestone for the Uyghur people as they aspire for human rights, democracy and freedom in East Turkestan.
Uyghurs across the world look to the United States and its representatives as leaders in the struggle against tyranny and repression. Accordingly, members of the U.S. Senate and House,  as well as dignitaries, prominent human rights defenders, and leaders of the Tibetan and Chinese communities will address Uyghur congressional delegates and their supporters from around the world.”

The conference looks to assess the past and present Uyghur condition under Chinese Communist Party rule, and to offer solutions on the future of East Turkestan. Topics to be covered during the two-day event include discussions on autonomy, religious freedom and the “War on Terror”. Registration begins at 10 a.m. on May 18. Members of media are welcome to attend the conference.

- Programme -

East Turkestan: 60 Years under the People’s Republic of China

Past, Present and Future

18 – 19 May 2009

Monday 18 May

10.30                Registration: National Endowment for Democracy

11.00 – 12.00    Introduction / Opening Session

                        Opening statements

<!--[if !supportLists]-->·         <!--[endif]-->Rebiya Kadeer, (President, World Uyghur Congress (WUC))

<!--[if !supportLists]-->·         <!--[endif]-->Marino Busdachin, (General Secretary, UNPO)

<!--[if !supportLists]-->·         <!--[endif]-->Carl Gershman, (President, National Endowment for Democracy (NED))

<!--[if !supportLists]-->·         <!--[endif]-->Mr. Hans Hogrefe (Director of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission)

12.00 – 13.30    Panel I  --  “The War on Terror; persecution, stigmatization and preventive strike”

 Panelists:

<!--[if !supportLists]-->·         <!--[endif]-->Moderator: Mr. Alim Seytoff (General Secretary, Uyghur American Association)

<!--[if !supportLists]-->·         <!--[endif]-->Mr. T. Kumar (Advocacy Director Asia & Pacific, Amnesty International USA)

<!--[if !supportLists]-->·         <!--[endif]-->Ms. Sarah McKune (Human Rights in China)

<!--[if !supportLists]-->·                                                        <!--[endif]-->Dr. Sophie Richardson (Advocacy Director Asia Division, Human Rights Watch)

Q & A Round

13.30 – 14.30    Lunch

14.30 – 16.00    Panel II  --  “Religious Freedom; constitutional right in vain?”

                        Provisional Panelists:

<!--[if !supportLists]-->·         <!--[endif]-->Ms. Kara Abramson (Congressional-Executive Commission on China)

<!--[if !supportLists]-->·         <!--[endif]-->Ms. Louisa Coan Greve (Director of East Asia National Endowment for Democracy)

<!--[if !supportLists]-->·         <!--[endif]-->Ms. Amy Reger (Principal Researcher Uyghur Human Rights Project)

Q & A Round

16.00 – 16.15    Break

16.15 – 17.45    Panel III  --  “Meaningful Autonomy & Politics of Demography; economic, social and cultural challenges”

                        Provisional Panelists:

<!--[if !supportLists]-->·         <!--[endif]-->Moderator: Ms. Louisa Coan Greve (Director of East Asia National Endowment for Democracy)

<!--[if !supportLists]-->·         <!--[endif]-->Mr. Ulrich Delius (Director of Asia, Society for Threatened Peoples)

<!--[if !supportLists]-->·         <!--[endif]-->Mr. Joshua Cooper (Hawaii Institute for Human Rights)

<!--[if !supportLists]-->·         <!--[endif]-->Senator Marco Perduca (Italian Senator)

Q & A Round

Tuesday 19 May

08.30 – 10.30    Panel I -- “The War on Terror; persecution, stigmatization and preventive strike”

                        Round table discussion on future policy

10.30 – 10.45    Break

10.45 – 12.45    Panel II  --  “Religious Freedom; constitutional right in vain?”

                        Round table discussion on future policy

12.45 – 13.45    Lunch

13.45 – 16.00    Panel III  --  “Meaningful Autonomy & Politics of Demography; economic, social and cultural challenges”

                        Round table discussion on future policy

To download the opening speech made by the General Secretary of the UNPO, Mr. M Busdachin, please click here.

To download the event programme, please click here.