TCHRD Statements

13/10/2023 News / TCHRD Statements

China’s re-election to Human Rights Council exposes the crisis facing UN human rights system

Despite concerns about its human rights record, China secured its seat on the United Nations Human Rights Council with 154 votes, marking its sixth election to the Council. China’s repeated membership raises questions about the effectiveness of the UN’s human rights system and the need for reform in the election process, emphasising the importance of implementing a performance appraisal system to prevent habitual human rights offenders from participating in Council elections. The international community is urged to take action to ensure that the Council’s goals are not compromised and to support human rights advocates in China.

26/06/2023 News / TCHRD Statements / torture

International Day in Support of Victims of Torture

Every year on 26 June, the United Nations observes the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, explicitly focusing on torture’s lasting generational impact and consequences. Recognising torture as the deliberate infliction of severe physical and mental suffering without justification, the United Nations General Assembly designated this day as an urgent call to eliminate this abhorrent practice, serving as a platform to promote the eradication of torture and to urge governments worldwide, including China, to fulfil their obligations under the UN Convention Against Torture. Recent cases, such as the severe torture endured by a Tibetan monk and the testimonies of Dorje Tashi, shed light on the systematic use of torture by Chinese authorities to suppress freedom of expression and assembly. These distressing incidents underscore the pressing need for the international community to take a firm stand and demand an immediate end to all acts of torture against Tibetans in Tibet.

17/05/2023 Arbitrary Detention / Freedom of religion and belief / Involuntary Disappearance / News / TCHRD Statements

28 years since the enforced disappearance of Tibet’s Panchen Lama by the Chinese government

On the 28th anniversary of the Chinese government’s arbitrary detention and subsequent enforced disappearance of the 11th Panchen Lama Jetsun Tenzin Gedhun Yeshi Trinley Phuntsok Pal Sangpo, widely recognised by his lay name Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD) reiterates its call to the Chinese government to immediately and unconditionally release the Panchen Lama, his family members, and all the Tibetan political prisoners. TCHRD emphasises that without ensuring the Tibetan people’s fundamental human rights, including freedom of belief and religion, Chinese authorities can never hope to win the hearts and minds of Tibetans, let alone earn any legitimacy for its repressive policies and campaigns in Tibet.

12/01/2023 News / TCHRD Statements / UN Human Rights Experts

UN Human Rights Experts’ Communication to China on Forced Cultural Assimilation in Tibet

The Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD) welcomes the letter sent to China by four UN human rights experts urging Chinese authorities to clarify how the recent developments in Tibet regarding oppressive laws, policies and practices on education, language and religion are compatible with China’s obligations under the international human rights laws and standards.

10/12/2020 Campaign / News / TCHRD Statements

Human Rights Day: Campaign to Free Tibetan Political Prisoners

On the occasion of International Human Rights Day, the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD) calls on the international community to take affirmative actions to protect, promote and fulfill human rights for all. As we observe the anniversary of the adoption of Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) by the UN, thousands of Tibetan political prisoners are languishing…

25/11/2020 Campaign / News / TCHRD Statements

16 Days of Activism against gender-based violence in Tibetan community

A Tibetan mother of two, who was also a popular social media personality, died at the hands of her ex-husband on 30 September because she had refused to return to her abusive marriage. Lhamo, 30, was stabbed and then set on fire by the ex-husband on 14 September while she was live streaming from her home. The horrifying attack on Lhamo on the Chinese video app Douyin triggered a wave of outrage among Chinese netizens, who condemned the crime and demanded that Chinese authorities be held accountable for failing to prevent domestic violence. Despite government censorship, there were vociferous calls advocating for better laws and support systems for domestic abuse victims.

26/06/2020 Campaign / News / TCHRD Statements

No impunity for torture: #InternationalDayAgainstTorture

26 June is the UN International Day in Support of Victims of Torture. The Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD) joins initiatives across the world to end torture and create a safer world for all to exercise human rights and fundamental freedoms. Torture is one of the persistent human rights issues in Tibet owing to China’s routine practice of…

17/05/2020 Campaign / News / TCHRD Statements / Uncategorized

China must publicly disclose truth about Tibet’s disappeared Panchen Lama

On the 25^th anniversary of the enforced disappearance of the 11^th Panchen Lama Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD) reiterates its call for his immediate and unconditional release and unfettered access to independent international human rights group to ascertain his fate and wellbeing.

Gedhun Choekyi Nyima was six years old when he and his parents became victims of enforced disappearance at the hands of Chinese authorities on 17 May 1995, three days after His Holiness the Dalai Lama had recognised him as the reincarnation of the previous 10^thPanchen Lama.

03/05/2020 Campaign / Freedom of Opinion and Expression / TCHRD Statements

Tibetans Defend #RightToProtest: TCHRD Campaign on Peaceful Assembly launched

The Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD) launched today the #WhyProtest digital campaign to promote and protect the right to freedom of peaceful assembly or the right to protest. The right to protest is universally recognised as a fundamental human right that is crucial to creating a tolerant and pluralistic society in which groups with different beliefs, practices, or policies can coexist peacefully. This fundamental right is necessary for the exercise of other human rights.

10/12/2019 Campaign / TCHRD Statements

Human Rights Day 2019: UN member-states must defend universal human rights by protecting civil society voices

On the 71st anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD) calls on the UN member-states to defend universal human rights by protecting civil society expression. This call comes at a time when civil society voices are under attack in many places around the world. In particular, the supression of…

03/12/2019 Campaign / TCHRD Statements

TCHRD: Campaign against Gender-Based Violence is a phenomenal success

The Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD) is pleased to announce that the campaign against Gender-Based Violence (GBV) has been overwhelmingly successful. The opening ceremony on 25 November was well attended by the exile Tibetan community in India and others, and everyone was eager to listen and participate. Our guest speakers discussed statistics and stories that were poignant and informative with a highly engaged audience. Our digital campaign, continuing until 10 December, has been an even greater success. The videos of GBV survivors sharing their personal stories went viral with almost 30,000 public engagements with our posts in less than one week.