Global Advocacy Intensifies at Berlin Forum for Uyghur Rights Amid New U.S. Policy Push

June 21, 2026
Global Advocacy Intensifies at Berlin Forum for Uyghur Rights Amid New U.S. Policy Push
  • The Berlin Declaration was adopted, reaffirming international commitment to accountability and the defense of Uyghur rights.

  • The Third International Uyghur Forum convened in Berlin from June 11–13, organized by the World Uyghur Congress and the Uyghur Center for Democracy and Human Rights, drawing over 200 participants from 25 countries and more than 80 speakers to address transnational repression, forced labor, cultural assimilation, and the psychological impact of activism, with the Berlin Declaration adopted to reinforce global accountability for Uyghur rights.

  • The forum explored the role of international institutions in addressing Uyghur rights, including testimony from a former Chinese official, alongside discussions on repression, labor, assimilation, and activists’ mental health.

  • In Washington, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee approved the Uyghur Policy Act of 2026 on June 17, aiming to strengthen U.S. engagement on Uyghur rights, prioritize Uyghur protections in foreign policy, support political prisoners, promote cultural preservation, and expand outreach to Muslim-majority countries, with passage through both chambers still required.

  • The World Uyghur Congress released a weekly brief highlighting ongoing repression and surveillance, Beijing’s expanding influence abroad, and concerns over China’s treatment of Uyghurs.

  • At the United Nations Human Rights Council’s 62nd session in Geneva, concerns were raised about China’s Ethnic Unity Law, with UN High Commissioner for Human Rights warning that the law could tighten restrictions on ethnic minorities including Uyghurs, Tibetans, and Mongolians.

  • Taken together, these developments signal rising international attention and coordinated advocacy across legal, diplomatic, and institutional channels to hold Beijing accountable for Uyghur rights abuses.

Summary based on 4 sources


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