International Women’s Day is nothing close to a celebration for Uyghur women.

International Women’s Day is nothing close to a celebration for Uyghur women.
Photo by Kirill on Lifeofpix.

09-03-2022

 

Myriam Whaibe 

 

China and Human Rights Researcher

 

Global Human Rights Defence



International Women's Day is not celebrated in the same way everywhere in the world. In some regions, it is not a celebration at all, but it is rather a painful reminder of everything happening in some regions, as it is certainly the case in China. While some women celebrate [International Women’s Day], Uighur women are suffering. 

The crimes against humanity happening in the Uyghur's concentration camps are all over the news. But the reality is even harsher. Uyghur women are the regime’s first target, they are forced to undergo sterilization, have IUDs implanted, and even undergo abortions without any consent.  Women are separated from their kids and husbands and they are never allowed to reunite together. “Uyghur women’s bodies have become the battlefield that the Uyghur genocide takes place on” (Abbas, 2022). They are deprived of their basic human rights, from dignity, from their right to life, their freedom of choice, liberty and expression, they are in most cases “incentivized” to marry Han Chinese men. 

Because of all the harsh crimes and violations, women are not celebrating this day, but the image is shown to the outside world given the fact that Peng Liyuan, Xi Jinping’s wife, serves as a UNESCO Special Envoy for The Advancement of Girls’ and Women’s Education. It is shocking and triggering to observe her “fight for women’s rights” on podiums and in front of the world, the West and the United Nations. While forced labor is happening in Xinjiang camps, the regime is trying to convince the world that what is happening is “re-education” through labor, but what about mass rape, genocides, Uyghur language interdiction?  

The genocides happening are a war against women, and the world is not talking enough about it. On March 8, the world is celebrating, women are being praised, but the world is quiet on the situation in China. The world is not taking acts, but on the contrary, we are giving the regime space among international organizations. 



Source and further readings : 

Rushan A. (2022, March 8) Uyghur Women Cry on International Women’s Day

https://myind.net/Home/viewArticle/uyghur-women-cry-on-international-womens-day