The Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC)
Concluding observations on the combined third and fourth periodic reports of China, adopted by the Committee at its sixty-fourth session (16 September–4 October 2013) Symbol No. CRC/ C/CHN/CO/3-4
The Committee is deeply disturbed by an alarming escalation of self-immolations by Tibetan children and the State party’s failure to prevent such loss of life by addressing the deep underlying causes and long-standing grievances of Tibetans. It is further concerned about reports of detention and imprisonment of Tibetan children accused of “inciting” self immolations, and of harassment and intimidation of families of victims, which could exacerbate the situation and lead to more self- immolations.
The Committee is deeply concerned that despite the constitutional guarantees of freedom of religious belief for ethnic and religious minorities, the State party continues to introduce regulations and policies that impose severe restrictions on cultural and religious freedoms of Tibetan children.
Concluding observations: China (24 November 2005) Symbol No. CRC/C/CHN/CO/2
The Committee is concerned about discrimination against certain groups on the mainland, such as girls; children infected with or affected by HIV/AIDS; children with disabilities; ethnic and religious minorities, such as Tibetan, Uighur and Hui children; and internal migrant children.
While noting the adoption of the Regional Ethnic Autonomy Act in 2001, which guarantees freedom of religion for ethnic minorities in mainland China, the Committee is concerned about reports that children, in particular Tibetan Buddhist, Uighur and Hui children, have been restricted in studying and practising their religion, and some cases have been detained for participating in religious activities.
Concluding observations of the Committee on the Rights of the Child: China (7 June 1996) Symbol No. CRC/C/15/Add.56
The Committee shares the concern expressed by the State party as regards the number of children in China who still do not attend school. It is also concerned about reports that school attendance in minority areas, including the Tibet Autonomous Region, is lagging behind, that the quality of education is inferior and that insufficient efforts have been made to develop a bilingual education system which would include adequate teaching in Chinese. These shortcomings may disadvantage Tibetan and other minority pupils applying to secondary and higher level schools.
In the framework of the exercise of the right to freedom of religion by children belonging to minorities, in the light of article 30 of the Convention, the Committee expresses its deep concern in connection with violations of human rights of the Tibetan religious minority. State intervention in religious principles and procedures seems to be most unfortunate for the whole generation of boys and girls among the Tibetan population.