Representative Thinlay Chukki addresses the gathering.
Geneva: On 27 February 2023, on the first day of the 52nd session of the UN Human Rights Council, the Tibetan Community of Switzerland and Liechtenstein organised a protest in front of the UN building against the deteriorating human rights situation in Tibet under the Chinese government rule.
During the recently concluded review of China on the implementation of International Covenant of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the UN experts questioned China on its “monoracial policies” and widespread rights violations in Tibet and other regions under Chinese government rule. The forced assimilation and separation of nearly 1 million Tibetan children from their families into the residential school has further alarmed the UN Experts. Despite repeated calls by the UN Experts for establishment of a UN mechanism to monitor the human rights situation in China, especially in Tibet and other regions under the Chinese government rule, there have been no concrete steps taken in this direction.
Addressing the gathering, Representative Thinlay Chukki from Tibet Bureau Geneva noted that “Tibet remains an unresolved international conflict which has resulted in decades long widespread human rights violations of Tibetans by the Chinese government. It is time UN takes a stand on Tibet and listens to its own experts and holds the Chinese government accountable for the human rights violations in Tibet and other regions under Chinese government rule.” Representative called on the UN member states to raise the human rights situation in Tibet during the upcoming session.
The President of the Tibetan Community and Liechtenstein, Karma Choekyi reminded cases of Go Sherab Gyatso and other human rights defenders and called for their unconditional release. The representative of Swiss-Tibetan Friendship Association (French Section) Marguarite Contat noted that “there is a policy of ethnocide, of systemic destruction of the identity of the Tibetans” in Tibet by the Chinese government. She noted that she will advocate for human rights in Tibet at the Swiss Parliament.
The 52nd UNHRC session will be held from 27 February to 4 April 2023.
–Filed by OoT, Geneva
Tibetans Protest against deteriorating human rights situation in Tibet as the 52nd UNHRC Session Commences.
Group photo.
