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International Day of Non-Violence: Rebiya Kadeer
Today (October 2nd) to celebrate the International Day of Non-Violence, we spotlight Xinjiang-born Uyghur activist and philanthropist Rebiya Kadeer, who is known for her work to fight violence against, and advance the rights and freedoms of, Uyghur women and children.
It is no secret that the Uyghur peoples have long faced various forms of injustice, including genocide, religious/cultural persecution, forced labour, and other forms of brutal violence. Rebiya was a born entrepreneur, supporting her family garment production business from a young age and later creating her own ventures. Through her foundation, ‘Thousand Mothers Movement,’ Kadeer championed Uyghur women like herself to build their own careers and freedoms, and their accessibility to education, wellbeing, and capacity-building resources.
Determined to elevate Uyghur cause to the international stage, she chose to be a staunch advocate for her people. This path led to her unjust incarceration in 1999, in an attempt by the Chinese government to silence her. Though she has been released since, she and her loved ones continue to face censorship and harassment. Over 30 of her family members are currently being detained without trial in Xinjiang, facing the brutality of political re-education camps.
🌍✨ Let’s honour Rebiya, stand with her and the Uyghur peoples, and continue to amplify the voices of under-recognised peoples resisting systemic violence against them, today and everyday.
📌 Raise Awareness and Get Involved!: Remember - violence comes in many forms, not just physical. We must always do our best to recognise the true roots of harm in situations of oppression, and stand in solidarity with efforts to resist that violence.
#WeAreManushyan ♾️ Equal Human Beings
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