Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD) commemorates the seventh United Nations international day in support of victims of torture on 26 June 2004. The UN proclaimed day is in support and solidarity with those who have suffered from torture and undergone physical pain and mental trauma. The day also calls for the end of torture throughout the world.

Torture is a regular feature in the People’s Republic of China (PRC) despite the fact that the PRC ratified the UN Convention Against Torture (CAT) and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment in October 1988 and outlawed certain forms of torture in the revised Chinese Criminal Procedure Law, that came into effect in 1997. Systematic torture is still endemic in the Chinese administered prisons in Tibet. Torture is still being used for purposes of extracting confessions, to defeat Tibetan prisoners nationalist spirit, to intimidate prisoners and to cause humiliation and mental trauma that affect the prisoners for the rest of their lives.

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The Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD) considers 2003 as the year of grave human rights violations in Tibet committed by authorities of People’s Republic of China (PRC). The information gathered by TCHRD gives clear picture of systematic and continued violation of Tibetan people’s right to civil liberties, religious freedom, and socio-economic rights.

On 30 March 2004, the Chinese State Council Information Office released a white paper titled “Progress in China’s Human Rights Cause in 2003”. The White Paper contained eight chapters: The people’s right to subsistence and development, civil and political rights, judicial guarantee for human rights, economic, social and cultural rights, the rights and interests of women and children, equal rights and special protection for ethnic minorities, the rights and interest of the disabled and international exchanges and co-operation in human rights. 

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The Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD) has released a new report titled “Unjust Sentence: A Special Report on Trulku Tenzin Delek” to coincide with the 45th anniversary of Tibetan Uprising Day on 10 March 2004. TCHRD has already released a similar report in Tibetan language on 2 December 2003.

This 66-page report gives an overview of background of Trulku Tenzin Delek, events leading to his arrest and thereafter, unfair legal proceedings and representations, execution and reaffirmation of death penalty, and provisions and violations with regard to trial and death penalty within Chinese constitution as well as international laws. The report is based primarily on information provided by students, followers and residents of Turlku’s hometown, highlighted in international and Tibetan media, and mentioned in reports of various governments and thematic bodies of the United Nations. 

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