Role of International Organisations in Protecting the Uyghur Muslims

Maintenance of peace and security is the major goal of the United Nations and while it has worked tremendously in the furtherance of the same, the plight of the Uyghur Muslims in China cannot be ignored. Amongst the Xinjiang province of China, the Uyghur community is leading a desolate and miserable life. The Chinese authorities are violating the human rights of this community through demographic genocide. In doing so, they are violating international treaties and conventions along with their own Constitution. The Uyghur community is facing a continuing violation of human rights in the form of internment camps, birth control measures and high surveillance. These acts are also falling under the definition of ‘genocide’ under various international treaties. The authorities assert that the outside world does not understand the internal issues of Xinjiang as the Uyghur community is creating unrest and spreading violence for their demand for an independent state. Under the existing structure of the UN, an effective remedy to this minority community cannot be available as the jurisdiction of the concerned international courts does not lie in the said matter. In this paper, the author analyses the condition of the Uyghur community and the various international treaties and conventions which are being violated by the Chinese authorities. The author further provides for reform in the existing structure of the international organisations with a change in the geopolitical realities of the present.