The resolution, adopted on October 29, calls on European Union member states and the European Commission to take concrete diplomatic measures in response to human rights violations in East Turkistan. It also urges Catalan companies to ensure that their supply chains are free from links to forced labor in the region and commits to supporting Uyghurs fleeing persecution in East Turkistan. According to the World Uyghur Congress (WUC), more than one million Uyghurs have been subjected to mass imprisonment, forced labor, and the destruction of their cultural and religious heritage. The WUC maintains that these policies include acts of genocide as defined under the 1948 Genocide Convention. WUC President Turgunjan Alawdun welcomed the development, thanking the Parliament of Catalonia for supporting the Uyghur people and calling for concrete measures to address the alleged human rights violations. “On behalf of the Uyghur people, I thank the Parliament of Catalonia for standing with those whose voices China seeks to silence,” Alawdun said. The resolution should translate into practical action, including preventing forced labor from entering supply chains, protecting those fleeing persecution, and pursuing accountability. The WUC urged governments across Europe to follow Catalonia’s example and turn their human rights commitments into concrete protection for the Uyghur people. 2026 marks the tenth anniversary of what the WUC describes as the ongoing Uyghur genocide and the fifth anniversary of the findings of the Independent Uyghur Tribunal in London. According to the organization, more than three million Uyghurs have been subjected to forced labor, mass imprisonment, family separation, and forced sterilization over the past decade. The WUC called for stronger international intervention, urging more European governments and parliaments to recognize the ongoing Uyghur genocide and use their political influence to hold China accountable. The organization also called on EU member states and governments worldwide to follow Catalonia’s example by urging companies to completely disengage their supply chains from East Turkistan and designating the region as a high-risk area for forced labor. Furthermore, the WUC urged governments to consistently call on China to end its policies against the Uyghur people, both through public statements and bilateral diplomatic engagements. The organization also called for a review and strengthening of refugee protection and family reunification policies to ensure that Uyghurs fleeing political persecution receive adequate protection and that families separated by repression have meaningful opportunities to reunite. The Catalonia Parliament’s resolution is a significant step towards acknowledging the human rights violations faced by the Uyghur people. However, the WUC emphasized that more needs to be done to address the ongoing persecution and to hold China accountable for its actions. As the international community continues to grapple with the issue, the WUC’s call for stronger intervention and concrete action is likely to resonate with governments and organizations around the world. In the coming months, it will be crucial to monitor the implementation of the resolution and the response of the European Union and its member states to the WUC’s calls for action. The international community must continue to pressure China to end its policies against the Uyghur people and to ensure that those responsible for human rights violations are held accountable. The World Uyghur Congress’s efforts to raise awareness about the persecution of the Uyghur people have been ongoing for years. The organization has worked tirelessly to document human rights abuses, provide support to Uyghur refugees, and advocate for international action to address the crisis. As the situation in East Turkistan continues to deteriorate, the WUC’s work remains more critical than ever. In conclusion, the Catalonia Parliament’s resolution condemning China’s persecution of the Uyghur people is a significant step towards acknowledging the human rights violations faced by the Uyghur people. However, more needs to be done to address the ongoing persecution and to hold China accountable for its actions. The international community must continue to pressure China to end its policies against the Uyghur people and to ensure that those responsible for human rights violations are held accountable
