EU Statement at UNHRC61: Human Rights situation that require the Council’s attention
EU Statement at the 61th Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council
Item 4 – Human Rights situation that require the Council’s attention
16 March 2026
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Latest News
New PRC Ethnic Unity and Progress Law enforces assimilation of Tibetans, contradicts national and international law
On 12 March 2026, China’s National People’s Congress adopted a new law on “Promoting Ethnic Unity and Progress” which advances policies aimed at assimilating Tibetans. According to analysis by the International Campaign for Tibet, the law legitimizes long-standing Chinese Communist Party policies promoting demographic and cultural homogenization under the banner of “ethnic unity.” It also marks a significant legal shift by explicitly moving away from the principle of preferential protections for so-called “ethnic minorities” previously enshrined in Chinese law.
Tibetan monk enduring six-year prison sentence for efforts to safeguard linguistic heritage
The International Campaign for Tibet has learned that, after nearly five years of enforced disappearance and arbitrary detention, Tibetan monk Palden Yeshi is serving a six-year prison sentence in Chushul (Chushur) Prison southwest of the Tibetan capital Lhasa.
ICT issues call to action to commemorate Tibetan Uprising Day
As the world commemorates the 67th anniversary of the Tibetan national uprising against China’s unlawful annexation of their country, the International Campaign for Tibet calls on the international community to strengthen their support for the Tibetan people’s peaceful struggle.
French government reiterates concerns over boarding schools in Tibet, renew call for resumption of Sino-Tibetan dialogue
The French government has once again voiced its concern over China’s coercive boarding school system in Tibet, warning of the risks it poses to the preservation of Tibetan language and culture and to the rights of Tibetan children.
Latest Reports
Celebrating in fear China’s Crackdown on Dalai Lama Birthday Tributes in Tibet
This reports highlights the threats faced by Tibetans in Tibet who celebrate the birthday of their Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama and urges the international community — including United Nations bodies, national governments, parliaments, and civil society organizations—to call on China to cease its repressive actions.
Chinese hydropower Damming Tibet’s culture, community and environment
The People’s Republic of China’s hydropower and dam projects are increasingly leading to massive human rights violations and environmental damage in Tibet. Since Asia’s largest rivers originate in the Tibetan plateau, the construction of hydroelectric dams in Tibet also threaten the water supply, livelihoods and health of up to 1.8 billion people across China, South and Southeast Asia.
Buddhist Association of China takes a leading role in China’s attempts to control and forcibly reshape Tibetan Buddhism
This report shows how the Buddhist Association of China (BAC), a supposedly non-political organization, is becoming a key instrument in the Chinese Communist Party’s strategy to assimilate and transform Tibetan Buddhism – particularly in relation to the search for and recognition of reincarnate lamas.