The World Uyghur Congress (WUC), along with co-hosting partners, has announced the successful conclusion of the III Uyghur National Summit and Uyghur Youth Summit, which brought together more than 150 participants over three impactful days in Munich. The summit convened Uyghur leaders, human rights defenders, community organizers, youth activists, scholars, and political figures from over 22 countries, representing more than 50 Uyghur organizations worldwide.
“This summit is not just a gathering — it is a declaration. A declaration that the Uyghur people remain united in our struggle, and that no level of repression can erase our identity or silence our cause,” said WUC President Turgunjan Alawudun during the opening session.
Held at a pivotal moment for the Uyghur diaspora, the summit served as a vital platform for reinforcing unity, strengthening advocacy, and developing coordinated responses to the ongoing Uyghur genocide and widespread transnational repression by the Chinese government in East Turkistan.
High-Level International Engagement
The first day featured remarks and messages of support from prominent international figures, including:
- Yves-François Blanchet, Member of the Canadian Parliament and Leader of the Bloc Québécois
- Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe, Member of the Canadian Parliament
- Markétka Gregorová, Member of the European Parliament (video message)
- Jiri Oberfalzer, Vice President of the Czech Senate (written message)
- Iain Duncan Smith, UK Member of Parliament
- Baroness Helena Kennedy, UK House of Lords
- Pina Picierno, Vice President of the European Parliament (written message)
- Oleksandra Matviichuk, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and Ukrainian human rights lawyer
- Andrei Sannikov, Coordinator of Civic Movement and Chair of the European Belarus Foundation
- U.S. Congresswoman Young Kim, Chair of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Indo-Pacific
- U.S. Congressman Suhas Subramanyam
- Markus Rinderspacher, Vice President of the Bavarian State Parliament
- Barbara Lochbihler, Member of the UN Committee on Enforced Disappearances
- Professor Tomoya Obokata, UN Special Rapporteur on Contemporary Forms of Slavery
- Dogan Bekin, Member of the Turkish Parliament
- Norbert Altenkamp, Member of the German Bundestag and Co-founder of the Uyghur Friendship Group (video message)
All reaffirmed their continued support for Uyghur rights and called for increased international action to confront the Chinese government’s crimes against humanity.
Program Highlights and Strategic Focus
The summit opened with a joint session uniting both the National and Youth Summits, emphasizing intergenerational dialogue and collective purpose. From there, the Youth Summit launched into its dedicated programming, while the broader summit featured a diverse and dynamic structure, including:
- Two roundtable discussions
- One fireside chat
- Eight Chatham House-style policy dialogues
- Four open sessions for collaborative planning and community building
Topics covered included:
- The rising threat of transnational repression targeting Uyghur communities abroad
- Legal avenues for justice, including universal jurisdiction and engagement with UN mechanisms
- The leadership roles of Uyghur youth and women in sustaining the movement
- Strategies to protect Uyghur language, culture, and identity
- Strengthening cooperation between Uyghur organizations globally
- The crucial role of independent Uyghur journalism in exile
- Addressing Uyghur forced labor through policy and advocacy
- First-hand testimonies from camp survivors, underscoring the urgency of justice and reparations
- A candid assessment of challenges facing the movement, both internal and external
- Forward-looking discussions on “What’s Next for the Uyghur Movement?”
Running in parallel, the Uyghur Youth Summit explored themes of identity, trauma and healing, storytelling, transnational repression, cultural preservation, and empowerment, providing a safe and energizing space for the next generation of leaders.
The Munich Declaration
A key outcome of the summit was the adoption of the Munich Declaration, a reaffirmation of the Uyghur community’s commitment to mutual solidarity, coordinated global advocacy, and the peaceful pursuit of justice and freedom for East Turkistan.
The WUC expressed its deep appreciation to all participants, speakers, partner organizations, and volunteers whose dedication made the summit a success.
“As our community faces mounting threats, the conclusion of this summit marks not an end, but a renewed beginning,” said the organizers. “One defined by deeper collaboration, greater resilience, and unwavering hope.”
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