As the world commemorates the 76th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), we are reminded of its enduring message: civil, economic, political, and cultural rights are universal, inalienable, indivisible, interdependent, and interrelated. For over seven decades, this landmark proclamation has been a source of inspiration in the global fight for justice, equality, and dignity.

This petition serves as a critical call to action for governments, civil society organisations, and individuals worldwide to hold China accountable for its systematic use of torture and other forms of inhuman treatment in Tibet. By demanding accountability and transparency, the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy, alongside the Tibetan Youth Congress, Students for Free Tibet, and Tibetan Women's Association, strives to seek justice for victims like Trulku Tenzin Delek, prevent future atrocities, and uphold the fundamental principles of human rights for all. Every signature represents a powerful statement supporting justice, dignity, and the rule of law.

The Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD) recently concluded a comprehensive series of workshops on "Bystander Intervention against Sexual and Gender-Based Violence." These workshops were conducted for over 460 Tibetan youths across various educational institutions, schools and colleges based in India, including the Sambhota Tibetan School in Kalimpong and Darjeeling, the College for Higher Tibetan Studies-Sarah, the Dalai Lama Institute for Higher Tibetan Studies in Bangalore, and the Central Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies in Varanasi, India.

​The situation of Tibetan refugees in Nepal has worsened over the years. Since 1995, escalating Chinese pressure has hindered Nepal from issuing documentation to Tibetan refugees, depriving them of fundamental human rights, including travel, employment, and education rights.​ Referred to by many Tibetans as the "second Tibet," Nepal now faces a level of repression second only to Tibet under Chinese occupation. Chinese-directed surveillance and espionage carried out in collaboration with Nepali authorities further restrict Tibetans' freedom of expression and association, hindering cultural and religious practices.

The Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD), represented by the executive director, Ms Tenzin Dawa, and researcher, Mr Ngawang Lungtok, actively participated in the working sessions of the 54th Human Rights Council session. This participation included attending side events, delivering oral statements, and meetings with various diplomatic missions and NGO partners based in Geneva, Switzerland.  Ms Dawa and Mr Lungtok also raised the issue of transnational repression employed by the Chinese government to silence activists and dissidents beyond its borders. Additionally, the diplomatic briefings were convened with due consideration for the broader context of the upcoming UN Human Rights Council elections, in which participating states will exercise their right to vote, choosing 15 members from a pool of 47 available seats. China seeking re-election to the council is of particular concern primarily because it does not fulfil the membership criteria, in addition to its egregious human rights records.  In light of these developments, on 27 September, researcher Mr Ngawang Lungtok delivered an oral statement on behalf of the Asian Dignity Initiative during the general debate under Item 4 on Human Rights Situations that Require the Council's attention. The full text of the oral statement is appended herewith:

On the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearance, The Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy organised a panel discussion featuring three former political prisoners and a human rights researcher moderated by the Centre's Tibetan researcher, Nyiwoe. The session started with an explanatory video delving into the experiences of Tibetans subjected to enforced disappearance. Subsequently, TCHRD's executive director, Ms. Tenzin Dawa, underscored instances of enforced disappearance, citing significant cases like that of Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, abducted after being recognised as the 11th Panchen Lama by the 14th Dalai Lama, and referencing UN experts' concerns. The discussion commenced with former political prisoners succinctly sharing their grim experiences of torture and enforced disappearances. Mr. Gendun Rinchen recounted his arrest for disseminating human rights information as a tour guide, while Mr. Ngawang Woebar was arrested for protesting in Lhasa. Former prisoner Geshe Tsering Dorje described torture methods and the dire treatment of Tibetan prisoners, while Mr Wangden Kyab emphasised China's ongoing violations of its constitution and international obligations.

Earlier this year, Chinese authorities enforced the “Model 2 education system” in Tibetan primary schools in Ngaba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province, replacing all Tibetan medium education systems with Chinese medium. Under this system, all subjects except the Tibetan language are taught in Chinese, which critics argue is a means to destroy the Tibetan language and culture. The plan to introduce this system in the spring of 2020 was temporarily abandoned when Chinese authorities faced widespread criticism. Tibetan writer and public intellectual Thupten Lodoe (Sabuchey), 34, was among the prominent critics of the policy,

The Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD) represented by the executive director Ms Tsering Tsomo and senior program officer Ms Tenzin Dawa attended working sessions of the 51st Human Rights Council session including plenary meetings, negotiations of resolutions, side events, delivering oral statements, participating in informal meetings with partner NGOs, and exploring advocacy initiatives at the UN in Geneva.

A group of Tibetan refugees pursuing higher education in different colleges and universities in India took part in a workshop to better understand and advocate for human rights in their daily lives as well as in their own community. All participants, except three, were students pursuing various disciplines such as law, psychology, political science, commerce, computer application, microbiology and journalism.

Today on the “International Day in Support of Victims of Torture", the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy expresses our solidarity with all political prisoners around the world particularly Tibetan political prisoners and their relatives who have suffered and continue to suffer the brutal effects of excessive and inhumane torture and abuse perpetrated by the government of the People’s Republic of China.

In an open letter to President Xi Jinping on China’s ‘Children’s Day’ (六一际儿童节) on 1 June, the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD) calls on President Xi to end forced cultural assimilation policy, which is being aggressively implemented under the guise of “Second Generation Ethnic Policy” in Tibet.

Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy is shortly due to launch its Decoding CCP, a reliable guide to almost 500 propaganda jargon keywords, for both English and Tibetan readers. Tibetans have lived alongside their much bigger and more powerful Chinese neighbour for many centuries, and really know how Chinese leaders think.