Many ethnic Uyghurs have been forced to flee their homes to avoid persecution and violence. Many thousands have sought refuge in other countries, such as Turkey. And with so many organizations providing support to Uyghurs, we had to ask: What are the best charities to help Uyghurs?

The best charities to help Uyghurs are the Uyghur Human Rights Project, Justice for All, and Anti-Slavery International. These charities work to protect the rights of Uyghurs by eliminating ethnic and religious discrimination. They also empower Uyghur communities with relief and support services.

Whether you want to volunteer with an organization to help the Uyghur people, donate to an appeal for Uyghur refugees, or raise awareness of the situation, there is a charity for you. Keep reading to learn more about what the best charities to help Uyghurs are all about, how they work, and what your best way would be to make a contribution.

Here’s What All the Best Charities to Help Uighurs Have in Common

The charities on this list were chosen based on their mission and dedication to protecting the Uyghur people.

They have great financial and transparency practices, and are committed to ensuring equal rights for all Uyghurs.

They operate all over the world and raise awareness of the dire situation many Uyghurs face. They also advocate for the rights of Uyghur refugees, and carry out support programs that offer relief and assistance to Uyghur families in need.

Yet they all share the same goal of helping Uyghurs.

These Are the 9 Best Charities to Help Uighurs in 2024

Below are our favorite charities to help Uighurs (you can click on their link to directly jump to their section in this article):

Best Charities to Help Uighurs

Uyghur Human Rights Project

Justice for All – Save Uighur

Anti-Slavery International

Ummah Welfare Trust

World Jewish Relief

PEN International

Charity Right

Islamic Human Rights Commission

Muslim Aid

(At the end of this article we’ll also share our six-step approach on how you can select the best charity to support.)

Uyghur Human Rights Project: Promoting Uyghur Rights and Equality

The Uyghur Human Rights Project was founded in 2004 by the Uyghur American Association to advocate for the rights of the Uyghur people. Their work has consisted of publishing reports, briefings, and statements on the treatment of Uyghurs. In 2016, they became an independent organization and have continued promoting the rights of Uyghurs before governments around the world. Today, their headquarters are based in Washington, DC.

The Uyghur Human Rights Project holds a Finance and Accountability score of 71 out of 100 from Charity Navigator. They also have a Silver Seal of Transparency from GuideStar. And in 2019, for example, they spent approximately 89% of their income on their programs and services. 

“To defend Uyghurs’ civil, political, social, cultural, and economic rights according to international human rights standards.”

Uyghur Human Rights Project

The Uyghur Human Rights Project aims to eliminate discrimination against Uyghur communities living in the Uyghur regions of Central Asia. They achieve this through awareness-raising campaigns and research, and by advocating for policy changes that protect Uyghurs’ human rights. 

Since their inception, the Uyghur Human Rights Project has released over 80 reports and briefings on the treatment of Uyghur communities. Similarly, they’ve published over 400 statements and press releases to major news agencies covering the crisis. They have also sent over 30 submissions to governments, and testified before parliament in more than 3 countries, including the UK, Canada, and Australia.

You can contribute to the Uyghur Human Rights Project by donating directly through their website. You can also show your support by volunteering with them, or by attending some of their events to advocate for Uyghurs’ rights.

Justice for All – Save Uighur: Pushing for Policy Changes That Protect Uyghurs

Justice for All was founded in 2001 to combat Islamophobia in the US and worldwide. As they grew, they began addressing women’s issues, particularly those that affected Muslim women. They also established the Save Uighur project, which aims to raise awareness on the plight Uyghurs endure, and to push for policy changes that protect the Uyghur people.

Justice for All is an accredited organization at the UN, meaning they have special consultancy status based on their expertise. They also receive funding and support from the Interfaith Peace Corps and Charter of Compassion.

“Raising public awareness and resolve to help the Uighur people.”

Justice for All – Save Uighur

Through their Save Uighur project, Justice for All strives to end discrimination and human rights violations that affect the Uyghur people. They achieve this through awareness-raising campaigns and by advocating for policy changes in the international community, including at the UN.

Since the inception of their Save Uighur project, Justice for All has had approximately 70 meetings with the US Senate and House on Uyghur-related issues. They also collaborated with 218 organizations to end Uyghur forced labor, and had 1 confrontation with the Chinese government at the UN by an Uyghur. They also pushed for the passing of 2 legislative bills, the Uyghur Human Rights Bill which passed into law, and the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention bill, which passed through the House.

You can contribute to Justice for All by donating through their website. You can also show your support by volunteering with them and raising awareness on the issues affecting Uyghurs.

Anti-Slavery International: Combatting Discrimination Against Uyghurs

Anti-Slavery International was founded in 1839 by two abolitionists, Thomas Clarkson and Thomas Fowell Buxton, to criminalize the transatlantic slave trade. The practice saw Black slaves being transported from Africa to the Americas, and put an end to indentured labor systems in the British colonies. Today, their headquarters are based in London.

Anti-Slavery International has a positive track record of filing their annual accounts on time with the UK’s Charity Commissioner. They also receive generous funding from high-profile funders, including the European Commission, Comic Relief, and Irish Aid,  

“To prevent Uyghur forced labor, and all abuses.”

Anti-Slavery International

Anti-Slavery International works to eradicate all forms of modern slavery, including forced labor. They tackle the primary causes of modern slavery, including racial, ethnic, and gender discrimination, through public advocacy. They also publish calls-to-action to encourage groups, organizations, and companies to ensure their supply chains are ethical and free from all forms of modern slavery.

Since their founding, Anti-Slavery International has expanded its reach across 10 countries and provided support to 14 anti-slavery partner organizations that work locally to combat inequalities, discrimination, and harmful practices that can lead to forms of modern slavery. For example, in 2020, they launched the Coalition to End Forced Labor in the Uyghur Region, a coalition that aims to prevent forced Uyghur labor in the cotton industry. They also worked with 72 Uyghur rights groups and more than 100 civil society organizations to establish the coalition. Since then, the Coalition has been endorsed by over 350 organizations worldwide, and has influenced 7 fashion brands to take action. 

You can contribute to Anti-Slavery International by donating directly through the organization’s website. You can also join a local campaign to advocate for equal rights, or start a fundraiser on their behalf.

Ummah Welfare Trust: Providing Emergency Relief to Uyghur Refugees

The Ummah Welfare Trust was founded in 2001 to provide relief to people affected by poverty. Since then, they have worked in over 20 countries worldwide, and as of 2018, they have spent approximately £2 million on projects and services to support Uyghur refugees in Turkey. Today, their headquarters are based in the UK.

The Ummah Welfare Trust operates a 100% donation policy, meaning that all of its donations are sent to its relief programs, including those that help Uyghur refugees. They are also registered with the UK’s Fundraising Regulator, ensuring their fundraising efforts are ethical and transparent. 

“Supporting the vulnerable Uyghur refugees living in and around Istanbul.”

Ummah Welfare Trust

The Ummah Welfare Trust strives to eliminate poverty and suffering amongst Uyghur refugees by providing emergency relief, support, and services to communities in Turkey. They achieve this through financial support programs, by distributing food parcels and household essentials, and uplifting families. 

Since their founding, the Ummah Welfare Trust has helped thousands of Uyghur refugees living in Turkey. For example, in 2022, they provided financial assistance to over 4,000 Uyghur families. In the same year, they provided food assistance to 150 families. They also offered monthly support to more than 40 teachers to help Uyghur students. 

You can contribute to the Ummah Welfare Trust by donating through their website.

World Jewish Relief: Offering Humanitarian Aid to Vulnerable Uyghurs

World Jewish Relief was founded in 1933 as the Central British Fund for German Jewry, to provide support to those fleeing Nazi Germany. They soon expanded on their work and began offering assistance to other people affected by humanitarian crises, including those in Egypt, Czechoslovakia, and Ethiopia. Today, their headquarters are based in London.

World Jewish Relief has regularly filed their annual reports with the UK’s Charity Commission in a timely manner – showcasing their commitment to financial transparency. They spend approximately 81% of their income on their relief programs and services. They are also registered with the UK’s Fundraising Registry, which helps ensure their fundraising practices are both ethical and sustainable.

“Providing emergency food packages, hygiene kids, psychological support, and legal assistance to the most vulnerable Uyghur families in and around Istanbul.”

World Jewish Relief

World Jewish Relief provides emergency support to Uyghur refugees living in Turkey. They offer food, hygiene, health, and mental support to families that are fleeing persecution and looking to rebuild their lives. They also offer language support and legal assistance to help with integration into Turkish society.

Since their founding, World Jewish Relief has reached more than 88,000 people, including Uyghurs, with their relief programs and services. For example, in 2020, they provided food and hygiene packages to 750 Uyghurs. They also implement 4 different types of support programs for the Uyghur communities in Turkey, including mental, medical, handicraft, and language support.

You can contribute to World Jewish Relief by donating through their website. You can also show your support by volunteering with them, or getting involved with one of their charity challenges. Similarly, you can start a fundraiser on their behalf.

PEN International: Promoting Freedom of Expression for Uyghurs

PEN International was founded in 1921 to promote human rights and freedom of expression for cultures around the world. They expanded quickly and opened up PEN Centres around the world, which aimed to offer writers and poets everywhere a place to freely and creatively build on their art, and express their culture. Today, they operate 145 PEN centers worldwide and are active in more than 100 countries. Their Uyghur PEN Center was founded in Sweden in 2006 by Kurash Kosen, to further honor and preserve Uyghur culture.

According to the UK’s Charity Commission page, PEN International regularly submits their annual accounts and returns on time, ensuring their dedication to financial transparency. For example, in 2020, they spent approximately 72% of their income on supporting writers, increasing engagement in their centers, and assisting writers in prison. They also receive funding from high-profile funders, including the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Fritt Ord Foundation.

“Stand[ing] for the rights of the Uyghur people, for their freedom of expression and freedom of write.”

PEN International, Uyghur PEN

PEN International advocates for the protection of writers, poets, novelists, playwrights, and freedom of expression. They promote these rights through awareness-raising campaigns, and by offering support to writers through their global PEN centers. Through their work at the Uyghur PEN center, they also defend Uyghur writers that have been detained, and publish works from Uyghur writers to safeguard their culture and heritage.

Since they opened the Uyghur PEN center in 2006, PEN International has reported on attempts to suppress Uyghur freedom of expression. For example, in 2019, they monitored 219 cases of attacks against writers, with the most attacks occurring against ethnic minorities in China, including the Uyghurs. They also operate more than 26 linguistic centers dedicated to protecting Indigenous languages, including Uyghur.

You can contribute to PEN International by donating through their website. You can also show your support by getting involved in some of their campaigns to promote protection for writers, and freedom of expression.

Charity Right: Distributing Food Essentials to Uyghur Refugees in Turkey

Charity Right was founded in 2016 to provide food essentials to people in need. Since then, they have expanded to serve more than 40 million meals across 7 countries, many of which were distributed to Uyghur refugees living in Turkey. Today, their headquarters are based in the UK.

According to the UK’s Charity Commission registrar, Charity Right has continuously filed their annual reports on time and according to the Commission’s standards. And in 2020, they increased their program expenditure to provide food packages and essentials to Uyghur families in need.

“Helping support Uyghur refugees who flee persecution in China, giving them the help they need to get their lives back on track.”

Charity Right

Charity Right aims to deliver food essentials and support to Uyghur refugees living in Turkey. They achieve this by putting together food packages and bringing them to families in need. They also work to raise awareness of the dire situation for Uyghurs, both in their homeland and in Turkey.

Since their founding, Charity Right has reached over 1,000 people in Turkey, including Uyghur refugees. For example, in 2020, they distributed 5,000 food packs to Uyghur families, including single parent families. They also provided assistance to approximately 400 Uyghur families living in Turkey, and they support over 180 Uyghur students with academic and religious enrichment programs. 

You can contribute to Charity Right by donating through their website. You can also start a fundraiser on their behalf to help purchase materials for food packages that will be distributed to Uyghur families. 

Islamic Human Rights Commission: Advocating for the Rights of Uyghurs

The Islamic Human Rights Commission was founded in 1997 to advocate for the civil rights of Muslims. They became one of the first civil society organizations in the UK to offer legal support services to Muslims. Since then, they’ve expanded on their work and carried out research, advocacy, and campaigns to raise awareness on Muslims’ rights worldwide. In 2008, they began working to help Uyghurs.

The Islamic Human Rights Commission has Special Consultative Status with the UN, showcasing their expertise and dedication to advancing Muslims’ rights everywhere. They also receive funding from public donations, and high-profile donors, including the European Union and the Joseph Rowntree Foundation. However, they do not accept funding from any government. 

“To champion the rights & duties revealed for human beings.”

Islamic Human Rights Commission

The Islamic Human Rights Commission works to eliminate Islamophobia and discrimination against Muslim minorities, including Uyghurs. They implement campaigns that spotlight the critical situations many Uyghurs are facing in China, and they advocate for Uyghurs’ rights and protection at the international level. Finally, they also aim to give a voice to Uyghurs that have been affected by violence and persecution.

Since beginning their work on the situation of China’s Uyghur Muslims in 2008, the Islamic Human Rights Commission have published 2 reports, which have detailed the discriminatory policies Uyghur communities face. They are also publicly opposing the ratification of 1 treaty that may have a harmful impact on Uyghur refugees living in Turkey. And in 2020, they gathered testimonies from 6 Uyghurs to advocate for the protection of Uyghur rights. 

You can contribute to the Islamic Human Rights Commission by donating through their website. You can also show your support by volunteering with them and contributing to their campaigns. Furthermore, they welcome volunteers for fundraising as well.

Muslim Aid: Offering Urgent Support to Uyghurs

Muslim Aid was founded in 1985 to provide emergency relief to those affected by humanitarian crises in Africa. By 1987, they had begun responding to other humanitarian crises too, including those in Pakistan and later Sudan. Since then, they’ve worked in over 29 countries to support refugees, including Uyghur refugees living in Turkey.

Muslim Aid’s US branch, Muslim Aid USA, holds a Platinum Seal of Transparency from GuideStar. For example, in 2019, they spent nearly 89% of their income on their programs. They also receive funding from various high-profile donors, including the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the World Food Programme (WFP).

“To provide the Uyghur in Turkey with the basic rights that are being taken away from them, including safety, shelter, and food.”

Muslim Aid

Muslim Aid delivers life-saving support and aid to Uyghur refugees in need. They work with refugees arriving in Turkey to ensure they’re safe and secure, and have access to essential resources, such as food and shelter. Their services also enable Uyghurs to practice their faith with dignity, especially during important religious holidays.

Since their founding, Muslim Aid has reached over 5,000,000 people, including Uyghurs, with their programs and services. They raise funds for Qurbani, which enables Uyghur families to receive fresh meat during Eid Al-Adha. They also provide 4 program services to Uyghur refugees, including shelter, medical care, food, and legal aid.

You can contribute to Muslim Aid USA’s Uyghur Appeal through their website. This ensures your donation goes directly toward efforts to help Uyghurs.

How Can You Select the Best Charities to Support?

The charities on the list are, we deem, the best charities to help Uighurs. However, you may have a particular charity you want to support. Let’s look at what you can do to ensure your contribution has the most significant impact.

• Check out the charity website. Charities that are worthy of your donations are transparent in their mission and their figures. Familiarize yourself with their history, mission, and values. Their website usually is the best place to start.
• Identify the charity’s mission. Without a goal, the charity is likely to fail. If the charity’s mission isn’t clear, it’s probably worth looking for a charity that does have a clear mission. 
• Check if the charity has measurable goals. An effective charity has clear goals. You want to know your donation will help the charity reach its goals. But if it doesn’t have targets, it’s likely to fail or squander your gift. The charity should be able to account for its spending and supply evidence of the work they do.
• Assess the successes or goals the charity has achieved. You wouldn’t invest in a business if it kept missing its targets. In the same way, charities are like this too. If no one is assessing a charity’s progress in reaching its targets, the chances are they’re not making a substantial positive change.
• Check the charity’s financials and stats. Trustworthy organizations will publish financial statements and reports each year. Some might be exempt from having to do so, but they should be able to provide them to public members who are interested in donating.
• Locate sources who work with or benefit from the charity. Word of mouth and first-hand experience of a charity’s work lets you know the charity’s quality. If you’re able to do so, check out the charity for yourself or speak to someone familiar with it. This way, your donation will go to the right place. 

How Can You Best Support These Charities?

After you’ve made your decision, it’s time for you to decide on how you’d like to help the charities you’ve chosen. Check how you can help – each charity runs specific programs that have unique aims. Find out what the aim of such programs is and whether they are right for you. 

Here are a few ways you can help your chosen charity:

• Donate money. You can find donation pages on the website of most charities. Your donation can be a one-time payment, or you can set it to be deducted regularly at different intervals. You can mostly pay via credit card, but some charities also take PayPal or Bitcoin payments.
• Buy their official merchandise. The charities can also raise money by selling merchandise. So, you can support them by buying the mugs, shirts, caps, pens, pencils, and any other such items they may be selling. Ideally, you should buy as much as you can to share and spread the word about the charity’s activities.
• Engage in volunteer work. As you’ve seen from our descriptions above, some charities engage in a lot of local and grassroots programs. You can help by taking on and organizing the program in your local area.
• Help their fundraising efforts. You can spread the word about the charity in your workplace, school, church, etc., and hold creative fundraising drives on social media or offline within your small circles.
• Share their stories. Most charities have compelling stories that you can share with your audience to attract more people to the cause.

Final Thoughts

Now it is up to you to select the charity that resonates most with you. And whichever charity you end up choosing and contributing to, we are sure that they will immensely appreciate your support. Hopefully, the information within this article has made this selection process a bit easier for you to support charities dedicated to helping Uighurs – based on the causes that matter most to you.

Stay impactful,

PS: Finally, I want to leave you with a thought-provoking TED talk from Dan Pallotta, a leading philanthropic activist and fundraiser, about what is wrong with the way we think about charities – and what we can do about it:

Sources

• Uyghur Human Rights Project: About
• YouTube: Uyghur Human Rights Project
• Charity Navigator: Uyghur Human Rights Project
• GuideStar: Uyghur Human Rights Project
• Charity Navigator: Uyghur Human Rights Project
• Uyghur Human Rights Project: About
• Uyghur Human Rights Project: Donate
• Uyghur Human Rights Project: Interns and Volunteers
• Uyghur Human Rights Project: Events
• YouTube: Justice for All: Save Uighur
• Justice for All: Partnerships
• Justice for All: Save Uighur: Homepage
• Justice for All: Impact Report on Human Rights & Advocacy 2019-2020
• Anti-Slavery International: Our History
• Anti-Slavery International: LinkedIn
• YouTube: Anti-Slavery International
• UK Charity Commission: Anti-Slavery International
• Anti-Slavery International: Annual Accounts 2020
• Anti-Slavery International: How We Work To End Slavery
• Anti-Slavery International: Annual Review 2019-2020
• Anti-Slavery International: Annual Review 2020-2021
• Anti-Slavery International: Annual Accounts 2020
• Anti-Slavery International: Donate
• Anti-Slavery International: Campaigns To End Slavery
• Anti-Slavery International: Fundraise for Freedom from Slavery
• Ummah Welfare Trust: About Us
• Ummah Welfare Trust: Where we work
• Ummah Welfare Trust: A 100% Donation Policy
• YouTube: Ummah Welfare Trust
• Ummah Welfare Trust: A 100% Donation Policy
• Ummah Welfare Trust: About Us
• Ummah Welfare Trust: Annual Report 2022
• Ummah Welfare Trust: Donate
• World Jewish Relief: About Us
• YouTube: World Jewish Relief
• Charity Commission: World Jewish Relief
• World Jewish Relief: Where your money goes
• World Jewish Relief: Charitable giving
• World Jewish Relief: Psychological support for Uyghur refugees
• World Jewish Relief: Annual Report 2020-2021
• World Jewish Relief: Donate
• World Jewish Relief: Volunteer
• World Jewish Relief: Charity Challenge
• World Jewish Relief: Charity Fundraising
• Justice for All: Mission Statement
• Save Uighur: About
• Save Uighur: Donate
• Save Uighur: Volunteer
• PEN International: Our History
• PEN International: Uyghur PEN: About Uyghur PEN
• YouTube: PEN International
• UK Charity Commission: PEN International
• PEN International: Annual Report 2020
• PEN International: Uyghur PEN
• PEN International: On the Frontline Defending Freedom of Expression and Promoting Literature
• PEN International: Donate
• PEN International: Campaigns
• Charity Right: About Us
• YouTube: Charity Right
• UK Charity Commission: Charity Right
• Charity Right: Annual Report 2019
• UK Charity Commission: Charity Right Financial Statements 2020
• UK Charity Commission: Financial history
• Charity Right: The truth China doesn’t want you to know about Uyghur refugees
• Charity Right: Donate
• Charity Right: Fundraising
• Islamic Human Rights Commission: About Us
• Islamic Human Rights Commission: Uighurs Campaign
• YouTube: Islamic Human Rights Commission
• Islamic Human Rights Commission: About Us
• Islamic Human Rights Commission: Uighurs Campaign
• Islamic Human Rights Commission: Annual Report 2020-2021
• Islamic Human Rights Commission: Grief Observed: Uighur Testimonies
• Islamic Human Rights Commission: Donate
• Islamic Human Rights Commission: Volunteer for IHRC
• Muslim Aid: Muslim Aid USA Homepage
• Muslim Aid: History of Muslim Aid
• YouTube: Muslim Aid
• GuideStar: Muslim Aid
• Muslim Aid: Financial Information
• Muslim Aid: Muslim Aid: Annual report and financial statement 2020
• Muslim Aid: Muslim Aid: Annual report and financial statement 2020
• Muslim Aid: Qurbani
• Muslim Aid: Uyghur Refugees
• Muslim Aid: Uyghur Appeal