Geneva, 1 July 2026: Cedric Jeanneret, Member of the Grand Council of the Republic and Canton of Geneva, has strongly condemned the entry into force of China’s new Law on Ethnic Unity and Progress, describing 1 July 2026 as “a dark day” for the country’s ethnic minorities and cultural diversity. He warned that the legislation represents a serious assault on the cultural identities and constitutional rights of Tibetans, Uyghurs, Mongolians, and other non-Han peoples living under the People’s Republic of China.
In a statement issued following the implementation of the law, Jeanneret rejected Beijing’s characterisation of the legislation as a measure to promote ethnic harmony.
“Today, 1 July 2026, is a dark day as the Law on Ethnic Unity and Progress comes into effect in China. This law does not entail any ethnic progress whatsoever. On the contrary, it aims to standardise the diverse cultural riches currently present in the People’s Republic of China—whether among the Tibetans, Uyghurs, Mongolians, and so many others.”
Jeanneret stressed that the law contradicts the guarantees contained in China’s own Constitution.
“Article 4 of the Chinese Constitution provides for regional autonomy. This autonomy is being flouted by this law, which constitutes a standardisation, an attempt to homogenise and destroy China’s historical cultural richness.”
He argued that the legislation undermines the very diversity that has shaped China for centuries by placing state-defined national identity above the distinct languages, religions, histories, and cultures of its many ethnic communities.
Speaking from Geneva, Jeanneret also voiced concern over what he described as the Chinese government’s increasingly repressive policies toward ethnic minorities and its activities beyond China’s borders.
“Here in Geneva, we are deeply concerned to witness this development—the evolution of the Chinese regime, which does not respect its minorities, seeks to stifle them, and even goes so far as to persecute its own citizens here in Geneva and elsewhere.”
He said these developments should concern democratic societies worldwide, warning that repression directed at Tibetans, Uyghurs, Mongolians, and other communities is no longer confined within China’s borders.
Expressing solidarity with those affected, Jeanneret called on Beijing to reverse course.
“We are today in solidarity with all the peoples suffering this repression by the Beijing regime, and we call on the Beijing regime to repeal this law and return to conditions more in line with human rights and more in keeping with the richness of the People’s Republic of China—to the eternal richness of China, to the richness of Tibet, and to the richness of all these peoples who constitute a precious legacy for humanity.”
Representative Thinlay Chukki welcomed the growing international concern over the legislation, emphasising that the protection of cultural identity is a fundamental human rights issue. She stated that the preservation of Tibet’s language, religion, and cultural heritage is inseparable from the dignity and rights of the Tibetan people. She further stressed that policies aimed at forced assimilation threaten not only Tibetans but also Uyghurs, Mongolians, and other ethnic communities whose distinct identities are protected under international human rights principles. Calling for greater international engagement, Representative Thinlay Chukki urged democratic governments, parliaments, and international institutions to stand together in defending cultural diversity, religious freedom, and the universal rights of all peoples against policies that seek to erase their identities.
– Report filed by Office of Tibet, Geneva
