News & Resources

Representatives of 178 non-governmental organizations from 117 countries gathered in Istanbul, Turkey from 22-27 May for the 38th Congress of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), which also adopted a Resolution on the Human Rights situation in Tibet.

Today the European Voice published an article by Edward Lucas entitled “The Tibetan Test” on the importance of the Tibetan issue in EU-China relations.

The latest edition of the Tibet Brief, an ICT publication for policy-makers, providing concise information and perspectives on the political, economic and human rights situation in Tibet. This edition mainly focuses on the first official visits to China undertaken by some European leaders and on the latest efforts to raise awareness on the Tibetan cause by several European Parliaments.

Kalon Dicki Chhoyang, Kalon for Department of Information and International Relations, Central Tibetan Administration was invited to address the swearing in ceremony of Mr. Henri Malosse, the newly elected President of the European Economic and Social Committee of the European Union. The swearing in ceremony was held on 18 April in the European Parliament. Mr. Henri Malosse in his inaugural speech said that one of the figures he was most inspired by was the Dalai Lama and touched upon the worrying human rights situation inside Tibet.

On 24 April 2013 the Human Rights Committee of the German Parliament, the Bundestag, passed a Joint Declaration on self-immolations in Tibet.
A Joint Declaration, by protocol, is not a resolution, but more than a mere press release or statement. TheCommittee has only passed five such declarations in the past four years, on Syria, Russia and Iran.

High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice President of European Commission Catherine Ashton will be in China from 25 – 28 April 2013 for the first official visit after the Chinese once-in-a-decadeleadership change.

The 22nd Session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva, underscored the importance of multilateral engagement on Tibet. At the session that concluded on March 25, twelve countries and the European Union (EU) called on China to ensure the human rights of the Tibetan people. The United States, Germany and the Czech Republic specifically highlighted the issue of criminalizing and sentencing families and associates of Tibetans who have self immolated, and said such a policy has only further exacerbated tensions. The EU called on China to re-engage in constructive dialogue with the Tibetan people and allow free access to the Tibetan Autonomous Area. Below are excerpts from the Government Statements on Tibet.

Five remarkable individuals were presented with the International Campaign for Tibet’s Light of Truth Award by His Holiness the Dalai Lama in Switzerland on Saturday (April 13, 2013) for their outstanding contributions to the Tibetan cause.
ICT’s Light of Truth Award is the most prestigious award in the Tibet movement and has been presented over the years by His Holiness the Dalai Lama on behalf of ICT. Previous recipients include Archbishop Desmond Tutu, the late Václav Havel, Chinese scholar and writer Wang Lixiong, Elie Wiesel, Martin Scorsese and the people of India.

This week His Holiness the Dalai Lama left Dharamshala for New Delhi from where he left for Europe for a three-nation visit. His Holiness will give a series of teachings and public talks in several European countries such as Italy, Switzerland and the United Kingdom from 11 – 20 April.

One of Tibet’s longest-serving political prisoners, Jigme Gyatso, has been released from prison after 17 years. During his imprisonment he endured severe torture on several occasions and was imprisoned in Gutsa detention center and also in Drapchi and Chushur prisons in Lhasa. Images received from Tibet show Tibetans waiting to welcome him back to his home area in the Tibetan area of Amdo following his release on March 31.