Tibet Support Groups from 32 countries adopt Dharamshala Declaration

Group photo of the ‘Special International Tibet Support Groups meeting’, on March 7, 2026, Dharamshala. Photo: TPI

From March 7 to 9, 2026, more than 100 representatives of Tibet Support Groups from 32 countries gathered in Dharamshala for the Special International Tibet Support Groups Meeting. The meeting, organized by the Core Group for Tibetan Cause–India and facilitated by the Department of Information and International Relations of the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA), resulted in the unanimous adoption of the “Dharamshala Declaration.”

Reincarnation: solely the Dalai Lama decides

The declaration endorses the statement of the 14th Dalai Lama of July 2, 2025, in which the exclusive authority over identifying his reincarnation is entrusted to the Gaden Phodrang Trust, in consultation with traditional Tibetan Buddhist spiritual leaders. The participants condemned China’s interference in the reincarnation process and characterized it as “a serious violation of religious freedom and international norms.” The recognition of the reincarnation of the Dalai Lama is a sacred Tibetan Buddhist tradition in which no foreign power should play any role.

Support for the Central Tibetan Administration

The declaration affirms the CTA as the sole legitimate representation of the Tibetan people. The participants called on governments, international organizations, and civil society groups to formally recognize the CTA as the Tibetan government in exile. Sikyong Penpa Tsering emphasized in his keynote that the support of international supporters is invaluable: “Our struggle is based on truth and justice.”

Call for dialogue

A central point of the declaration is the demand for immediate resumption of direct dialogue between the People’s Republic of China and representatives of the Dalai Lama or the elected Tibetan leadership, without preconditions. In addition, the participants called for intensifying global advocacy and documenting human rights violations until a just resolution is achieved.

Year of Compassion

The meeting coincided with “Ghoton,” the Year of Compassion, a year-long celebration in honor of the 90th birthday of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Rinchen Khando Khrimey, chief organizer of the conference, emphasized the importance of engaging younger generations in the movement, as the older generation of Tibetans gradually grows smaller.

Richard Gere, who was unable to attend in person, sent a video message in which he described the movement as “a long game” in which ultimately “everyone is liberated.”

Looking ahead

The CTA aims to achieve legislation similar to the American Resolve Tibet Act in friendly countries and to obtain international declarations of support for the Dalai Lama’s reincarnation process. The conference, held on the eve of the 67th commemoration of Tibetan National Uprising Day on March 10, underscored the enduring global solidarity with the Tibetan people and their struggle for freedom, justice, and the preservation of their unique national identity.

The full closing declaration of the meeting can be read here.