Switzerland: The Swiss Parliamentary Tibet Support Group extended heartfelt greetings to His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama on his 90th birthday on 6 July 2025, and issued a statement calling for the recognition by the Swiss government. The group extends its heartfelt congratulations to His Holiness, wishing him good health and a long life.

In its message, the group further lauded His Holiness’s lifelong dedication to principles of non-violence, compassion, peace and environmental protection serves as an inspiration to humanity around the world. The group called upon the Swiss government to send an official congratulatory message of felicitation to mark His Holiness in recognition of his significant contributions to world peace and moral leadership.

The Swiss Parliamentary Tibet Support Group further stated that His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama has become a symbol of hope not only for Tibetans but for all humanity. His approach to resolving the Tibet issue through peaceful means and his promotion of global ethics have resonated across cultures, religions, and generations. His vision of Tibetan autonomy, peace, and environmental concern remains more relevant and necessary than ever.

Recalling His Holiness’s last visit to Switzerland, the Group noted that it was a moment of great joy for the Tibetan community and the Swiss Parliamentary Tibet Support Group, who warmly received His Holiness and celebrated his presence. However, the Group also conveyed its disappointment that the Swiss government did not take the opportunity to officially meet with the Nobel Peace Laureate during his visit.

The group called upon the Swiss government to officially recognise this year’s special birthday celebration of His Holiness ‘Year of Compassion’, stating that such a gracious gesture would reaffirm Switzerland’s continued commitment to human rights and peace dialogue.

A delegation from the Swiss Parliamentary Tibet Support Group plans to visit Dharamshala, the seat of the Tibetan government-in-exile, to personally extend birthday greetings and demonstrate increased commitment to the Tibet cause. As His Holiness recently explained in a television interview on “Wisdom of Happiness,” his vision calls for all of us to rise above religious and partisan divisions and work together through compassion, reason, and moral responsibility.

In addition, the Swiss Parliamentary Tibet Support Group expressed grave concern over the ongoing human rights situation in Tibet. The group strongly condemned the Chinese government’s forced separation of Tibetan children from their families through state-run boarding schools, the systematic suppression of religious and cultural freedoms, and the widespread surveillance and control imposed on the Tibetan people—practices they deemed unacceptable.

They particularly welcomed the recent criticism of these Chinese actions by UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, who criticised these repressive policies in his latest report. They emphasised that such international scrutiny is both timely and necessary.

Furthermore, the Swiss Parliamentary Tibet Support Group urged the Swiss government to take these human rights violations into account in its bilateral engagement with the People’s Republic of China. They called on Swiss authorities to uphold the rights of Tibetans to preserve their language, religion, culture, and identity.

The Swiss Parliamentary Tibet Support Group further called upon the Swiss government to consider these violations when engaging with the People’s Republic of China and to recognise Tibetans’ right to preserve their language, culture, religion, and identity. At this time, more than 70 years after Tibet’s occupation, they reminded us that peace and justice must be more than just aspirations—they must be practised. The statement concluded with a continued commitment to work for Tibetans’ right to self-determination and for their future ability to live with dignity and freedom once again.

– Report filed by Office of Tibet, Geneva