Workshop 2025 – Oslo, September 6–7, 2025
This year’s UTJD workshop brought together 36 registered participants, with 33 actively attending, to strengthen the link between research, technology, and activism in documenting and addressing human rights violations against Uyghurs and other Turkic peoples.
We opened with inspiring remarks from Jostein Hole Kobbeltvedt at Rafto Foundation for Human Rights on Activism, Mishel Kondi at C4ADS on research with technology perspective and Muetter Iliqud at Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation on research, who highlighted the urgency of youth-driven work in the face of ongoing repression.
Saturday – Research, Technology, and Activism in Action
Saturday was structured around three practical tracks, where participants rotated through sessions designed to build hands-on skills:
- Research Track: Participants learned OSINT fundamentals, explored UTJD’s report repository, and worked in groups on topics they chose themselves: Forced Labour, Cultural Identity, and Second-Generation Uyghurs in the Diaspora. Each group produced a fact sheet with clear problem statements, evidence, and references.
- Technology Track: Groups transformed their findings into compelling webpage drafts, learning to use WordPress and UTJD’s AI tool. They embedded photos, a short video, and “key fact” boxes to ensure their advocacy pages were clear, visual, and evidence-based.
- Activism Track: Teams translated their research into advocacy outputs. They drafted letters to policymakers with concrete “asks” and recorded short awareness videos combining urgency, evidence, and a call to action.
The day concluded with final presentations, where each group showcased their webpage, shared their advocacy letter, and screened their social media clip. These outputs were published on the UTJD website, demonstrating how collaborative research can directly fuel digital activism.
Sunday – Oppression and Transnational Repression
Sunday opened with a session on Confirmatory and Additional Accounts of Oppression and the Intents behind the Relaxation of Entry into East Turkistan, where participants discussed the implications of shifting policies and the risks they pose for the Uyghur diaspora.
This was followed by a presentation from the Human Rights Foundation on Transnational Repression (TNR)—the ways governments attempt to silence and intimidate diaspora communities beyond their borders. The session introduced the concept and its evolution, examined how it manifests in the CCP context, and reflected on its impacts on activists and communities. It also explored the challenges in policy and legal frameworks addressing TNR. Importantly, the presentation highlighted the need to move beyond fear toward resilience, providing participants with practical tools for protection and creative resistance at both community and governmental levels. The positive framing, with its focus on agency and solidarity, underscored a powerful reminder: while repression is real, collective resilience is just as strong—and it is something we can build together.
Closing Note
This was the second youth-led UTJD workshop, and it demonstrated the power of equipping young advocates with the tools to conduct credible research, translate it into digital campaigns, and navigate challenging community debates. By combining evidence with empathy, participants not only produced tangible advocacy materials but also strengthened solidarity across the Uyghur diaspora.
We extend our gratitude to all speakers and guest speakers, and especially to Frifond, whose generous grant made this workshop possible.
Please find the video from our interns at UTJD sharing their experience and work at UTJD.
