Free China

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE — August 31, 2026

Free China Movement Calls for Accountability, Independent Investigation, Forced-Labor Enforcement and Protection Against Transnational Repression

On August 31, 2022, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights released its landmark assessment of human-rights conditions in Xinjiang. The UN assessment concluded that the extent of arbitrary and discriminatory detention of Uyghurs and other predominantly Muslim minorities, together with broader restrictions and deprivations of fundamental rights, “may constitute international crimes, in particular crimes against humanity.”

“Four years after the United Nations warned that abuses in Xinjiang may constitute crimes against humanity, the world still has no credible accountability mechanism. A warning of this magnitude cannot be allowed to expire with the news cycle.”

Four years later, the fundamental accountability problem identified by the UN remains unresolved. Recent human-rights reporting continues to document arbitrary detention and unjust imprisonment, extensive surveillance, restrictions on religious and cultural life, family separation, restrictions on travel and communication, forced-labor risks in international supply chains, and pressure against Uyghurs living abroad.

The Free China Movement believes the passage of time must not push Xinjiang out of the international human-rights agenda. Fundamental rights do not stop at national borders, and no political regime should be able to invoke sovereignty, national security, or social stability as a shield against credible scrutiny of serious human-rights allegations.

The issue also extends beyond Xinjiang’s geographic boundaries. Recent reporting and institutional analysis have documented transnational repression targeting Uyghurs and other communities outside China.

Free China Movement Calls for Five Actions

1. Demand the release of people arbitrarily detained or unjustly imprisoned for peaceful expression, religious belief, cultural identity, association, or the peaceful defense of fundamental rights.
2. Require the Mainland Chinese Communist Government to permit genuinely independent, credible and unhindered international investigation and reporting in Xinjiang, including meaningful access for international human-rights institutions and independent journalists.
3. Strengthen investigation, transparency and enforcement against forced labor in international supply chains, including stronger supply-chain disclosure and accountability mechanisms.
4. Strengthen protections against transnational repression, including reporting, investigation, law-enforcement coordination and victim-protection mechanisms for Uyghurs, Chinese democracy advocates, Tibetans, Hong Kong activists, human-rights defenders and others subjected to threats or coercion abroad.
5. Keep Xinjiang human rights and accountability on formal international agendas, with concrete follow-up procedures and measurable accountability mechanisms rather than periodic expressions of concern.

The Free China Movement further calls on the Mainland Chinese Communist Government to end repression of basic human rights and civil liberties; release those arbitrarily detained or unjustly imprisoned solely for peaceful political expression, religious belief, ethnic or cultural identity, or the defense of civil rights; and permit credible independent international examination of serious allegations concerning Xinjiang.

“Four years ago, the United Nations issued its warning. Four years later, the international community needs more than another expression of concern. It needs sustained, transparent and measurable action and accountability.”

Freedom, dignity, freedom of belief, and the right to live without fear belong to every human being.

Media Contact / 媒体联络
Free China Movement / 自由中国运动
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Phone: +1 (571) 895-7066