Legislation sponsored by U.S. Sen. John Curtis (R-UT) seeks to counter the ongoing human rights abuses by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) against the Uyghur people and other minority groups who live in a northwest region of the country.
“The United States cannot stand idle while the CCP continues its systematic human rights abuses against the Uyghurs,” said Sen. Curtis, who introduced the Uyghur Policy Act of 2025, S. 1542, on April 30.
The measure outlines a series of diplomatic, humanitarian, and strategic actions to pressure the People’s Republic of China and support communities being abused in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region.
If enacted, S. 1542 would direct the U.S. State Department to prioritize support for Uyghurs in diplomatic and foreign aid efforts, and engage regularly with Muslim-majority countries to amplify Uyghur advocacy, according to a bill summary provided by Sen. Curtis’ staff.
Additionally, the bill would require training of both a selection of Foreign Service Officers serving in China, Turkey, and other nations hosting Uyghurs in the Uyghur language, and U.S. officials at international organizations to combat China’s attempts to prevent consideration of Uyghur issues in international forums.
“By ensuring the State Department is engaged at every level in supporting human rights for Uyghurs, this legislation affirms a moral imperative for the U.S. to stand against genocide and religious persecution,” Sen. Curtis said.
No Business With Genocide, Campaign for Uyghurs, and the Uyghur Human Rights Project endorsed S. 1542.
Companion legislation introduced by U.S. Rep. Young Kim (R-CA) has passed the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee.