Zumretay is currently the Program & Advocacy Manager for the World Uyghur Congress.
She attended the Université de Montréal, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in international relations, with a minor in international law. In 2018, she finished a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) from Université Laval. Congrats!
Zumretay is the spokesperson for the WUC, acting as the liaison with the press and media, and also coordinating the media with the Uyghur diaspora. Her main focus is on advocacy work, including meeting with members of parliament, governments and officials to raise urgent issues and violations in East Turkistan (similar to lobbying).
She is frequently involved in the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland to address the plight of Uyghurs. In November 2019, she spoke at the 12th Session of the UN Forum on Minority Issues on the theme of “Education, Language, and the Human Rights or Minorities”. She also spoke on behalf of Gesellschaft für bedrohte Völker (GfbV) in the UN Human Rights Council, addressing COVID-19.
Her advice to youth who are working towards their goals: trust your instinct and don’t be afraid of failures; it’ll open up new opportunities and expand your horizons.
Thank you for the work that you do!