The World Uyghur Congress (WUC) is an international organization that represents the collective interest of the Uyghur people both in East Turkistan and abroad. It was established on April 16, 2004, in Munich, Germany, through the merger of two existing organizations: the East Turkistan National Congress and the World Uyghur Youth Congress.
The WUC operates as a democratic, non-profit NGO and holds periodic General Assemblies where delegates from around the world elect leadership and set strategic policy. Leaders serve three-year terms. The organization's mission centers on promoting democracy, human rights, and freedom for the Uyghur people through peaceful, nonviolent, and democratic means.
Since its founding, the WUC has been led by several prominent figures. Erkin Alptekin served as the first president from 2004 to 2006. Rebiya Kadeer, a well-known Uyghur activist and businesswoman, served as president for multiple terms from 2006 to 2017. Dolkun Isa has served as president since 2017, continuing to lead the organization's advocacy efforts on the international stage.
The WUC conducts advocacy campaigns at governments including the United States and EU member states, submits alternative reports to UN treaty bodies, participates in the UN Human Rights Council, and works to raise global awareness regarding the human rights situation of Uyghurs. The organization is also a member of the Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization (UNPO).
The WUC explicitly rejects totalitarianism, religious intolerance, and terrorism. It positions itself as a peaceful advocacy organization that seeks to promote the right of the Uyghur people to determine their political future through democratic processes. The Chinese government has designated the WUC as a separatist organization, an allegation the WUC categorically denies, maintaining that it operates within the framework of international law and democratic norms.
The organization's activities include publishing reports on the human rights situation in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, organizing international conferences, coordinating with diaspora communities across multiple continents, and engaging with media to provide accurate information about Uyghur issues to the global public.