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The international community has sent a strong message to China with unprecedented diplomatic action in recent weeks including the first collective statement at the U.N. Human Rights Council, a rare joint statement drawing attention to human rights abuses and a high-profile appearance by the Dalai Lama at an event with human rights defenders in Geneva.

EU Statement at the 31th Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council on 15 March 2016.

The United States and 11 other countries including 7 EU Member States have issued an historic joint statement condemning China’s human rights record at the 31st session of the UN Human Rights Council on Thursday 10 March.

In this edition:China’s first counter-terror law and its implications for Tibet; European Parliament report on EU-China relations deplores deteriorating human rights situation in Tibet and China; News of the Dalai Lama’s medical treatment prompts long life prayers in Tibet (…)

The International Campaign for Tibet welcomed reports about concerns voiced by the United States, the EU, Germany, Japan and Canada with regard to sweeping new and planned security laws in the People’s Republic of China.

The International Campaign for Tibet and the International Federation for Human Rights are organising a side event on China’s new law on counter-terrorism during the upcoming 31th session of the UN Human Rights Council.

Last week, Tibetans across Tibet marked the last day of an important religious festival, gathering in the thousands at monasteries despite the deployment of large numbers of uniformed and plainclothes paramilitary police. Meanwhile, the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) closes to foreigners until the end of March, an annual lockdown coinciding with the March 10 anniversary of the Tibetan Uprising in 1959.

New systematic and long-term security measures are being rolled out in the eastern Tibetan areas of Kham and Amdo as part of an intensified control agenda set at the highest levels in Beijing and in line with a ‘counter-terror’ campaign.

Since February 2009, there have been 155 confirmed self-immolations within Tibet and the PRC, 12 occurring in 2011, 86 in 2012, 27 in 2013, 11 in 2014, 7 in 2015, 3 in 2016, 5 in 2017 and 4 in 2018.

Following an outcry on social media, the local authorities in Rebkong (Chinese: Tongren), Tibet, have closed down a Chinese hotel after management threatened staff with a large fine if they spoke Tibetan.