On December 10, a campaign relay was held in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia and Tokyo, Japan to mark World Human Rights Day. Declared by the United Nations in 1948, World Human Rights Day sets out a broad range of fundamental human rights and freedoms to which all men and women, everywhere in the world, are entitled, without any distinction. 

          The Tokyo demonstration started at 1pm in Miyashita Park and ended at the Chinese Embassy in Tokyo.   Participants included many Tibetans, Uygurs, Burmese, Mongolians and Japanese.  Members of IMPP and LUPM (Mongolian Liberal Union Party) joined this event to demand human rights in Southern Mongolia.  With national flags held high, and signs demanding human rights in their homelands, the protesters marched through major streets in Tokyo. 

At the end of the demonstration, representatives of IMPP and LUPM read aloud their protest letter and submitted the petition to the Chinese Embassy in Tokyo, demanding Chinese authorities to obey its own constitution and respect the human rights of Southern Mongolians.  

Citizens of Mongolia held another demonstration in Ulaanbaatar to show support to Southern Mongolian brothers and sisters.  The theme of this year’s event was “We stand together with Southern Mongolians,” and despite the freezing temperatures, people still came out to the street to join in the event.  They also demanded Chinese authorities to end violence, and stop the torture of human rights defender and writer, Khuuchinkhuu.  This event drew local media attention, and an interview was conducted and later broadcasted in Mongolia. 

IMPP thanks everyone who joined this event, and those that took the time to recognize World Human Rights Day.