Tokyo, 7 December 2025: The Tibetan community in Japan, joined by representatives of 11 other nations, marked the 77th anniversary of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights with a large public gathering and peace march at Shibuya Women’s Plaza Hall, Tokyo.

The day began with a peaceful demonstration outside the Chinese Embassy, where protesters raised slogans calling for freedom in Tibet, East Turkestan and Southern Mongolia, urging an end to political repression and cultural erasure and condemned the PRC’s alleged human rights abuses and restrictions on religious and cultural expression.

At the opening of the programme, Tashi Yangzom, Secretary of Tibet House Japan (also called Office of Tibet), addressed attendees and expressed gratitude for their support. She highlighted ongoing concerns inside Tibet, noting that the Tibetan language is increasingly being replaced with Mandarin in schools and that nearly one million Tibetan children are separated from their families in colonial boarding institutions. Citing records of 157 self-immolations by Tibetans since 2009 in protest of CCP policies, she urged the international community to stand in solidarity with oppressed peoples and reaffirmed the Tibetan commitment to non-violent resistance guided by the principles of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

Tashi Yangzom also extended appreciation to countries supporting democracy and human rights, particularly Japan, for providing space to amplify voices of those facing repression.

The representatives of Myanmar, Cambodia, Belarus, Taiwan, East Turkestan, Southern Mongolia, Hong Kong, mainland China, North Korea, and Ukraine, shared accounts of political oppression and human rights violations in their respective regions, calling for unity among people living under authoritarian regimes and appealing for international intervention to end violence and restore freedom.

Dorjee Sichoe, President of the Tibetan Community Japan, and Tsering Dorjee, President of Students for a Free Tibet, also delivered remarks, while Kameda Taro of Students for a Free Tibet Japan moderated the session.

Following the speeches, approximately 300 participants marched through Aoyama, Omotesandō, and Shibuya. Streets echoed with chants for freedom and democracy, and flags of many nations waved above the crowd. Tens of thousands of passersby, including local residents and tourists, witnessed the demonstration as participants raised their voices against human rights abuses and appealed for global attention.

The gathering concluded peacefully, reaffirming a shared hope for justice, freedom, and the protection of human rights worldwide.

– Report filed by Office of Tibet, Japan-