I would like to extend my deepest gratitude to the United States and the 38 other countries who issued a joint statement at the UN General Assembly yesterday condemning the Chinese government’s human rights abuses against the Uyghur people.

Their statement on the ongoing atrocities—unparalleled crimes against humanity in the 21st century—is the strongest statement condemning the Chinese government ever to have been delivered at the UN. Their statement reflects commitment to truth and justice.

I have dedicated my life to fighting for the millions of voiceless Uyghurs who have been persecuted by the Chinese government. As an activist and a mother whose 39 innocent family members—among the more than 3 million innocent Uyghurs—have been arbitrarily detained in concentration camps, I am comforted by the joint statement of these 39 countries.

Yesterday’s actions at the UN imbued such aphorisms as humanity is one big family and humans are the highest of all creatures in the universe with meaning. They gave the Uyghurs and others who have long suffered under the brutal, tyrannical rule of the Chinese Communist Party hope for a better tomorrow.

I am sure that the beautiful, peaceful people of East Turkistan (so-called Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region) will shed tears of joy on the day they learn the righteous nations of the world stood up for them. On behalf of my people, I would again like to thank the representatives of these 39 countries, and encourage the international community to take swift, bold action to hold the Chinese government accountable for their incalculable crimes.

Rebiya Kadeer

The Leader of Uyghur National Movement