The Canadian Uyghur advocacy landscape is represented by several organizations that work to support the Uyghur diaspora and raise awareness about human rights issues in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of China.
The Uyghur Canadian Association (UAC) was historically the primary Uyghur advocacy organization in Canada. In October 2018, it merged with the East Turkistan Cultural Centre to form the East Turkistan Association of Canada (ETAC). Based in Toronto, Ontario, ETAC aims to unite Uyghurs and people of East Turkistan origin living in Canada. The organization hosts social events, promotes Uyghur culture to the broader Canadian public, and works to foster mutual understanding between the Uyghur and Canadian communities.
The Uyghur Rights Advocacy Project (URAP) has emerged as a prominent voice for Uyghur policy and advocacy in Canada. Its primary objectives are to document policies targeting Uyghurs and to bolster human rights advocacy through research and resource development. URAP engages in parliamentary action, legal advocacy, academic research, refugee support, and public awareness campaigns, working with NGOs, academics, and think tanks to encourage Canadian government action.
International Support for Uyghurs (ISU), based in Montreal, Quebec, is a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting Uyghurs and other Turkic peoples. It conducts evidence-based research on human rights violations, holds international conferences, organizes peaceful protests, and provides integration support including language and employment courses to help Uyghurs settle in Canada.
The Alberta Uyghur Association (AUA) focuses on promoting, advocating, and educating the public about human rights abuses through peaceful and democratic means at the local level.
Together, these organizations represent the evolving landscape of Uyghur advocacy in Canada, reflecting both the growth of the diaspora community and the increasing international attention to human rights conditions in the Xinjiang region.