Geneva: On 16 June 2025, as the 59th session of the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC 59th Session) commenced, the Tibetan Community of Switzerland and Liechtenstein (TCSL) organised a peaceful demonstration in Geneva to highlight continued state repressions inside PRC under CCP.
The event was attended by Representative Thinley Chukki, UN Advocacy Officer Phuntsok Topgyal, and Accountant Tenzin Chosang from the Tibet Bureau in Geneva. Also present were the Abbot of Rikon Monastery, the President and executive members of the TCSL, members from various local Tibetan NGOs, as well as representatives from Chinese organisations, including The Church of Almighty God and the Association for the Defense of Human Rights and Religious Freedom (ADHRRF). Around 120 Tibetan and Chinese participants took part in the demonstration.
The protest began with the singing of the Tibetan national anthem, followed by a minute of silence to honour the Tibetan martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the Tibetan freedom struggle. TCSL President Gyatso then delivered introductory remarks, followed by a press statement read by the TCSL Foreign Relations Secretary. Several distinguished participants also addressed the gathering.
Representative Thinley Chukki highlighted the ongoing suffering of Tibetans under Chinese rule, even after nearly 70 years since China’s invasion of Tibet. She emphasised that the oppression extends beyond Tibetans to include Uyghurs and Chinese Christians, and warned of increasing transnational repression by the Chinese government. These efforts, she noted, are designed to silence dissent and intimidate activists and exiles across the world.
She expressed grave concern over the existential threat to Tibetan culture and religion, pointing to the Chinese government’s colonial-style boarding schools where Tibetan children are forcibly separated from their families and indoctrinated with state ideology—leading to the erosion of their Tibetan identity. Representative Thinley Chukki also condemned the extensive dam construction projects in Tibet, which have damaged fragile ecosystems, displaced nomadic communities, and led to the relocation of monasteries.
She further drew attention to the severe religious repression faced by Tibetans, including state interference in religious practices, government control over monasteries, and the long-standing disappearance of the 11th Panchen Lama, missing for 30 years.
In her concluding remarks, Representative Thinley Chukki noted that this year marks the 90th birthday of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama. She reminded the audience of His Holiness’ global stature as a symbol of peace, compassion, and resilience, and highlighted the celebration of this milestone as the “Year of Compassion.”
The demonstration concluded with prayers and aspirations for peace.
At a time when global attention is increasingly directed toward political and economic cooperation, this peaceful protest in Geneva served as a poignant reminder that human rights must remain central to international discourse. The Tibetan cause is not just a regional or ethnic struggle—it is a test of the global community’s commitment to truth, freedom, and human dignity.
-Report filed by Tibet Bureau Geneva
