On September 8, 2013, the EU Special Representative for Human Rights (EUSR), Mr. Stavros Lambrinidis, went on his first official visit to China since the start of his mandate.
His 9-day visit included meetings with Chinese officials in Beijing and visits to Qinghai Province and the Tibetan Autonomous Region (TAR). During his visit, Mr. Lambrinidis regularly published updates on his Twitter account. Some of his activities included a meeting with Chen Quanguo, the Party Secretary of the TAR, a meeting with the Party Secretary of Lhasa, visits of the Jokhang and Sera monasteries and meetings with relocated nomads in Damxung. Issues discussed in Tibet were, among others, economic development, tourism, nomad resettlements, bilingual education, rights of expression and association as well as economic, social and cultural rights.
The International Campaign for Tibet (ICT) was able to provide Mr. Lambrinidis with information on recent developments taking place in Tibet on a wide range of issues such as cultural and language rights, religious repression, mass nomad relocations, self-immolations as well as the strengthening of the ‘stability maintenance’ approach, resulting into arbitrary arrests, enforced disappearances and excessive use of force by Chinese police.
At the end of his visit, the EUSR commented: “During my visit the Chinese authorities allowed for meetings and open discussions with a broad range of stakeholders. I had the opportunity to be informed of progress on a number of important economic and social fronts, including poverty eradication and education. At the same time, I noted worrying trends in key areas of human rights concern, including the heightened monitoring and restrictions placed on freedom of expression on- and off-line, as well as the persecution, arrest, and detention of people for peacefully expressing their views or legally exercising their professional duties. Throughout my visit, I underlined the EU’s readiness to continue to work with China in promoting respective adherence to international human rights obligations and standards.’’
To read the EU’s official press release about Mr. Lambrinidis’ visit to China, click here