Uyghur Policy Act of 2025
The Uyghur Policy Act of 2025 is a Senate bill that aims to bolster U.S. and international action to address human rights abuses against Uyghurs and other minority groups in China's Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR). It assembles a broad set of measures: formal findings about alleged genocide and crimes against humanity, a strengthened U.S. coordination and reporting framework, funding for advocacy and public diplomacy in the Muslim world, a strategy to gain access to detention facilities and push for the closure of camps, language-training requirements for U.S. diplomats, and enhanced U.N. engagement. The bill would create a 5-year sunset, meaning the authorities would lapse unless renewed, and it would use existing funding authorities rather than authorize new funds beyond those already available for similar purposes. If enacted, the bill could shape U.S. diplomacy toward China, increase scrutiny and reporting on XUAR abuses, support Uyghur advocacy and diaspora networks, and push for more transparent international engagement (including in the United Nations and among Muslim-majority countries). It does not itself impose new sanctions or define enforcement mechanisms but sets policy directions, reporting requirements, and targeted funding to advance its goals.
Key Points
- 1Foundational findings and sense of Congress regarding XUAR abuses. The bill lays out detailed findings that the PRC represses Uyghur and other minority identities, including references to mass detentions, indoctrination, and coercive policies, and it declares ongoing international concern about these abuses. It also expresses the sense of Congress that the PRC should allow visits, protect minority identities, cease repressive actions, and release prisoners, including named individuals.
- 2Strengthened U.S. coordination with international partners (with a 5-year sunset). The act directs the Secretary of State to prioritize Uyghur rights, maintain close contact with Uyghur leaders and diaspora communities, coordinate with other federal agencies, and pursue multilateral engagement (including with the UN and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation). It also requires an annual report to Congress (with a classified annex if needed) on actions to address transnational repression and recommendations for further measures, and it supports continued dissemination of information through independent media such as Radio Free Asia.
- 3Access to detention facilities and release of prisoners. The act requires a strategy within 180 days to pressure the PRC to close “political reeducation” camps, allow unhindered access to detention facilities for media, researchers, and international bodies, and protect minority rights. It requires a follow-up report within one year detailing the strategy and implementation steps.
- 4Uyghur language training and staffing. The Secretary of State must ensure Uyghur language training for Foreign Service officers where appropriate and strive to have at least one Uyghur-speaking officer assigned to each U.S. diplomatic or consular post in China. The Foreign Service Institute must provide annual progress reports for three years on these steps.
- 5Public diplomacy funding in the Islamic world and Uyghur advocacy. The act directs that $250,000 per year from the Speaker Program pool (for 2025–2027) be dedicated to supporting Uyghur rights advocates abroad, with the Assistant Secretary of State identifying speakers for global forums (especially events involving OIC member states and Muslim-majority countries) to discuss Uyghur rights and religious freedom.
- 6UN engagement (part of broader international outreach). The bill directs the U.S. to use its UN voice to oppose efforts that hinder consideration of the XUAR abuses, to support Uyghur advocates’ participation in UN fora, and to back the appointment of a UN special rapporteur or working group for the XUAR to monitor abuses and share information with UN bodies.
- 7No new funding authority beyond existing appropriations. The bill states no new funds are authorized; requirements must be carried out using amounts already available for similar purposes.