CONFRONTING THE UIGHUR CRISIS: ASSESSING AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS ADVOCACY (2016 - 2021)

Abstract

This thesis focused on the international responses to the Uyghur crisis in Xinjiang, China, from 2016 to 2021, with a particular emphasis on human rights advocacy. Xinjiang, previously known as East Turkestan, possesses rich natural resources and is predominantly inhabited by Central Asian people. Following its transition into an autonomous region of China, Uyghur Muslims have faced severe discrimination and egregious abuses of their human rights. These abuses include religious constraints, demolition of mosques, widespread detentions, and the establishment of "re-education" camps. The study investigates the approach of international organizations, with a specific focus on Amnesty International, in dealing with these violations. Amnesty International has recorded and denounced these offenses, urging global intervention. This study used qualitative methods to examine the influence of advocacy approaches on foreign policies and the protection of Uyghur rights, by analyzing publications and reports. The key findings indicate that Uyghurs are subjected to systematic violations of their human rights, which encompass mass detentions, ideological manipulation, discrimination, physical and sexual assault, as well as restrictions on freedom of speech. The human rights obligations of both the state and international organizations can be comprehended via the lens of the philosophy of human rights.