The Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) led by Sikyong Penpa Tsering considers Tibet advocacy as one of the main priorities in restoring freedom for Tibet. While the CTA continues its efforts to bring the Tibetan cause at the forefront internationally, the 16^th Kashag has undertaken a new initiative, Voluntary Tibet Advocacy Group (V-TAG) to provide every Tibetan the opportunity to optimize their potentials in contributing to the non-violent, mutually beneficial, negotiated, and lasting solution to the Sino-Tibetan conflict. V-TAGs are voluntary associations of Tibetans formed to carry out advocacy campaigns in their respective countries. The main goal of establishing V-TAGs is to reinforce the existing advocacy campaigns across the world by providing a platform for every Tibetan to contribute in their own ways for the larger cause of Tibet. 

The Tibetan community in the diaspora is undergoing significant social and demographic changes. As of today, Tibetans are spread around the world and have established Tibetan organizations in at least 20 countries. Despite the challenges posed by such changes, as citizens of the country and having a good understanding of local languages and system of governance, provide a unique opportunity for them to actively engage in garnering international support for Tibet. 

At present, China’s relation with the international community and its handling of issues pertaining to Tibet, East Turkestan, Hong Kong, Southern Mongolia and Taiwan are becoming increasingly critical. Tibet in particular is facing an existential threat of identity, cultural and religious assimilation, economic marginalization, and environmental degradation from the Chinese Communist regime. Therefore, Tibetans need to strengthen advocacy for Tibet with the maximum participation of Tibetans spearheaded mainly by the younger generation. Through this effort, we can amplify our international outreach garnering the attention and support for Tibet that it deserves.

CTA expects V-TAGs to act as one of the main vehicles of the Tibetan movement under the guidance of DIIR and Offices of Tibet, and to work in close coordination with Parliamentary Friends of Tibet, Tibet Support Groups, Tibetan Associations, and other stakeholders resulting in more concrete support for the Tibetan movement from across the world until the aspirations of Tibetans are fulfilled and freedom is restored in Tibet.

List of Abbreviations:

TAS – Tibet Advocacy Section
V-TAG – Voluntary Tibet Advocacy Group
OOT – Office Of Tibet
DIIR – Department of Information and International Relations
TA – Tibetan Association
TSG – Tibet Support Group
PFT – Parliamentary Friends of Tibet (This includes all the inter-parliamentary support groups for Tibet)
MTP – Members of Tibetan Parliament in Exile

VOLUNTARY TIBET ADVOCACY GROUPS

Voluntary Tibet Advocacy Groups (V-TAGs) are voluntary associations of Tibetans formed to carry out advocacy campaigns in their respective places. Any Tibetan can become a member of V-TAG. However, the advocacy activities are expected to be spearheaded mainly by the younger generation. The initial registration drive post-launch will be done through an online registration form accessible on Tibet.net. V-TAGs will be region-specific and can be of any size.

V-TAGs will carry out Tibet advocacy campaigns in their regions, in collaboration with Offices of Tibet, Parliamentary Friends of Tibet, Tibet Support Groups, and Tibetan Associations as and when required. It is of utmost importance for V-TAGs, OOTs and other stakeholders to be on the same page while conducting advocacy campaigns.

1. Roles and Responsibilities 

The role of the “Voluntary Tibet Advocacy Group” is to carry out well-planned, effective and efficient advocacy activities on issues related to Tibet, to create   further awareness of the deteriorating situation inside Tibet and garner stronger support from the international community. The V-TAG responsibilities will  include, but are not limited to the following:

• • • Initiate advocacy campaigns: V-TAGs shall undertake advocacy for Tibet under the supervision of elected V-TAG leaders in their respective regions.
    • Commit to Tibet advocacy work: V-TAGs shall devote at least 1 week a year or more for advocacy activities.
    • Prepare advocacy activity calendar: V-TAGs shall prepare and send a local annual advocacy calendar to DIIR TAS and OOTs. ITCO will coordinate for advocacy groups in India.
    • Identify supporters: Profiling of present and prospective supporters, political leaders, eminent personalities, interest groups, and media in their locality.
    • Elect Executive Members: Members shall identify and elect their group leaders amongst themselves on a rotational basis. V-TAG leaders shall work closely with their members as well as TAS and OOTs.
    • Devise Strategy and Implement Advocacy Campaigns: Each advocacy group shall devise a strategy for the successful implementation of all activities and campaigns mentioned in the calendar based on their local environment. Advocacy campaigns, including petitions and meetings should have clear and concrete Asks. This should be well documented and shared with their members, TAS and OOT. All V-TAGs shall also notify TAS and relevant OOTs at least a week ahead of the scheduled advocacy campaign.
    • Conduct Membership Drive: Once the advocacy groups are formed, V-TAGs will conduct membership drives from time to time. For new members, a downloadable registration form will be available on Tibet.net to be submitted to the local V-TAG leaders.
    • Submit Reports: Advocacy groups may submit a report after completion of each campaign to DIIR and OOT for news reports. Separately, an online campaign template in Google form must be submitted after the completion of each campaign.
    • Undertake activities by nonviolent means: Advocacy activities shall be carried out in nonviolent and lawful form, as per the law of the land.
    • Complement prevailing organizations: The ongoing lobbying efforts at all levels, including at the federal level by OOTs and existing organizations shall continue. The advocacy activities by V-TAGs shall compliment their work as and when required. In particular, advocacy campaigns by V-TAGs at the federal level and in the city where OOT offices are located must be conducted in coordination with the concerned OOT and other organizations who always conduct such advocacy activities at the federal level such as International Campaign for Tibet, Students for a Free Tibet, etc.

2. Jurisdiction of V-TAGs:

V-TAGs will initiate advocacy activities within the jurisdiction of its own town/city/state of residence. Collaborations between V-TAGs could be carried out,     if needed, in the respective jurisdictions of OOTs.

3. Membership:

All Tibetans are eligible to become a V-TAG member, as long as you are committed to advocate for Tibet while abiding by the guidelines set here.

4. Target Audience:

• • Decision-makers including the president, the prime minister, the cabinet, parliamentarians, related office holders, community leaders and ministry of foreign affairs and external affairs, foreign relations, and relevant committees such as Congressional-Executive Committee on China, Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission in the United States,
  • University faculties and student leaders, researchers,
  • Town council, mayor, and other local government and regional officials, elected public representatives,
  • Human rights associations, think-tanks, media, entertainment and sports personalities,
  • Interest groups (Uyghurs, Southern Mongolians, Environment organizations, Overseas Chinese residents, NRIs, etc.)

Structure and Role

1. TIBET ADVOCACY SECTION:

Tibet Advocacy Section (TAS) has been formed under the Department of Information and International Relations. The section is headed by Dukthen Kyi, Deputy Secretary, and has a group of staff, allocated as per the jurisdiction of zone-wise advocacy. Interested volunteers can reach TAS at [email protected] and [email protected] .

Each TAS staff member is assigned to coordinate with V-TAGs as per the jurisdiction of the OOTs as below:

• • • OOT North America,
    • OOT Brussels,
    • OOT Geneva,
    • OOT London + OOT Moscow, and
    • Australasia (OOTs Australia, Japan and Taiwan).

As for India, ITCO shall coordinate with V-TAGs. (See annexure for OOTs’ jurisdictions)

The main responsibilities of TAS are as follows:

• • • Launch Advocacy Program: The advocacy program, V-TAG, was launched on November 6 in Zurich, Switzerland by the Sikyong. TAS has also released V-TAG promotional videos.
    • Conduct Membership Drive: DIIR TAS and OOTs are conducting the initial membership drives by reaching out to TAs and individuals, and using all the available avenues since the launch. TAS has created a digital membership form, accessible on CTA official websites by any Tibetans around the world.
    • Guide V-TAGs: TAS staff shall guide and coordinate with applicants in the formation of V-TAGs. TAS shall maintain regular communication with V-TAGs and provide assistance as and when required.
    • Make a Calendar: TAS has outlined a calendar with important international and Tibetan events and dates for the V-TAGs to chart their own annual advocacy calendar.
    • Develop Content: TAS shall assist in developing the content of advocacy material/kit. TAS shall update current issues in Tibet to V-TAGs.
    • Provide Capacity Building Training: TAS and OOTs shall provide orientations and advocacy training to V-TAG members in collaboration with other organizations including the International Campaign for Tibet (ICT).
    • Connect Advocacy Members: TAS shall facilitate networking between and amongst V-TAGs, TSGs, OOTs, TAs, PFTs, etc. to enable pooling of resources to carry out a coordinated advocacy campaign.
    • Provide Platform: DIIR shall create platforms for influencers and leaders identified by V-TAGs to share new ideas, ways and means to benefit others. This could be done through conferences at national, regional, and international levels.
    • Provide Report Template: TAS shall design an advocacy campaign/activity report template for all the V-TAGs. This report template will serve the dual purpose of facilitating groups in reporting their activities as well as enabling DIIR to get all the necessary and relevant information and suggestions.
    • Publish Advocacy Campaign Reports: TAS has create a separate tab on the official CTA website and publish V-TAGs’ advocacy reports.
    • Assess Monitoring and Evaluation: TAS shall evaluate the workings of the V-TAGs as per campaign reports submitted by V-TAGs periodically for further improvisations.

2. OFFICES OF TIBET:

The main responsibilities of Offices of Tibet (OOTs) are to reach out to governments, parliaments, think tanks, media, and the general public under        their jurisdiction on issues related to Tibet. However, they shall also perform the following concerning V-TAGs.

• • • Guide V-TAGs: OOTs shall reach out to V-TAGs under their jurisdictions and guide them on common Asks in line with the approach of the OOTs in their diplomatic efforts.
    • Create Opportunities: OOTs will create opportunities for the V-TAGs at national and multilateral events whenever possible.
    • Facilitate Networks: OOTs shall facilitate networking between and amongst V-TAGs, TSGs, TAs, and PFTs to enable the pooling of resources in carrying out coordinated advocacy campaigns.
    • Assist in orientations and training: OOTs shall assist TAS in all the activities carried out for the successful implementation of the projects including orientations and capacity building training for V-TAGs.
    • OOTs shall continue their diplomatic efforts at all levels under their jurisdictions. OOTs in their diplomatic and advocacy campaigns may coordinate with V-TAGs, as and when required.

3. TIBET SUPPORT GROUPS:

TSGs can provide guidance, training, and support to advocacy groups. One of the main tasks of TSGs is drafting advocacy-related documents, since many including International Tibet Network have the expertise and the experience of working on various campaigns. TSGs will also join advocacy members in activities/campaigns in their respective jurisdictions. Wherever and whenever possible, TSGs shall assist V-TAGs in building networks with MPs and other important officials, personalities, and media. etc. to substantiate their campaigns.

4. PARLIAMENTARY FRIENDS OF TIBET:

PFTs can provide guidance and support such as introducing V-TAG members to other MPs, facilitate in making appointments, and invite V-TAG             members to testify in the parliament etc.

5. TIBETAN ASSOCIATIONS:

The TA executive members function voluntarily and much of their time is spent on matters relating to the TAs. Hence, they could devote limited time for advocacy work. However, TAs can support V-TAGs in their respective countries in the following ways:

• • • Mobilize Membership Drive: TAs play an important role as a nodal point for mobilization and encouraging participation in V-TAGs in their regions and work in close coordination with DIIR TAS and OOTs. TAs shall recognize the contributions of V-TAG members at public events to motivate them and to inspire others to join V-TAGs. While organizing major events, TAs will supplement human resources for specific advocacy campaigns.
    • Provide Financial Support: Since V-TAGs are also voluntary in nature, TAs will assist in fundraising events of advocacy groups or provide financial support for the activities of V-TAGs.

6. MEMBERS OF TIBETAN PARLIAMENT-IN-EXILE:

The members of the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile could play an advisory role and participate in V-TAG activities as much as possible.

Note: This Guideline is subject to change as per circumstances

 Jurisdiction of Respective OOTs

OOT Washington DC: (Representative for North America) and UN Affairs.

OOT Geneva: (Representative for Central and Eastern Europe) Switzerland, (including UN Affairs in Geneva), Germany, Liechtenstein, Austria, Italy, the Vaticans, Malta, Greece, Turkey, San Marino, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia & Montenegro, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Romania, Bulgaria, Macedonia, Albania.

OOT Brussels: (Representative for Western Europe, Magreb and EU) Belgium, France, Spain, Portugal, Netherlands, Luxemburg, Monaco, Andorra, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, EU Affairs and UNESCO.

OOT London: (Representative for Northern Europe) U.K, Ireland, Sweden, Iceland, Norway, Denmark (including autonomous Greenland), Finland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and Poland.

OOT Moscow: (Representative for Mongolia and Commonwealth of Independence States, CIS) Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyegyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan.

OOT Canberra: (Representative for Oceanic and SouthEast Asia) Australia, New Zealand, Fiji Islands, Papua New Guinea, East Timor, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore.

OOT Tokyo: (Representative for East Asia) Japan, North and South Korea and the Philippines.

OOT Taipei: (Representative for Taiwan) Taiwan.