By Uyghur Times Staff
Jan 2, 2024
The Uyghur Human Rights Act, first enacted on June 17, 2020, and praised by the Uyghur Human Rights Project (UHRP), will now remain in effect for at least another decade.
Under the provisions of the 2020 Act, the United States has imposed Global Magnitsky human rights sanctions on 12 individuals for committing atrocity crimes against Uyghurs and other Turkic groups. These sanctions target ten officials and two government entities.
Included in the recently approved National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), passed by Congress on December 18, are two major legislative measures aimed at protecting Uyghur and broader human rights:
- The Uyghur Human Rights Policy Reauthorization Act of 2024 (S. 4465): Introduced by Senator Marco Rubio (R) and Senator Jeff Merkley (D).
- Legislation to extend human rights sanctions (H.R.8366): Focused on Hong Kong, Tibet, and the Uyghur Region, this bill was introduced by Representative Chris Smith (R) and Representative Jim McGovern (D), with support from Representatives Dean Phillips (D) and Joe Wilson (R).
For the first time, Congress has enacted global restrictions on federal procurement of goods produced with forced labor from the Uyghur region. This builds upon the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, which has prohibited such imports into the U.S. since 2022.
The 2025 provisions expand this ban to include items used by the Department of Defense globally. Specifically:
- Section 7208 prohibits the Department of Defense from using federal funds to purchase any solar energy products made in the Uyghur Region or elsewhere in China if they are produced with forced labor.
China, which remained the world’s largest clothing exporter in 2023 with a double-digit market share, continues to face scrutiny for forced labor practices. According to the United States Fashion Industry Association’s 2024 Mid-Year Sourcing Trends & Outlook Report, these measures are expected to impact global supply chains significantly.
In November, UHRP joined a collective advocacy campaign calling for the reauthorization of human rights sanctions protecting Hong Kongers, Tibetans, and Uyghurs. The initiative was supported by multiple organizations, including:
- International Campaign for Tibet
- Campaign for Uyghurs
- Washingtonians Supporting Hong Kong
- Students for a Free Tibet
- Hong Kong Democracy Council
- Uyghur American Association
- Freedom in Hong Kong Foundation
These collaborative efforts underscore the continued push for accountability and global action against human rights violations, particularly in the Uyghur region.