Demonstration on Dam Square against China's Ethnic Unity Law — global solidarity

The demonstration on Dam Square in Amsterdam, 1 July 2026: Tibetans, Uyghurs and Chinese human rights defenders gathered to reject China’s Ethnic Unity Law. (Photo: Gitta van Buuren - PhotoWorks)

Yesterday, 1 July 2026, the Tibet Support Group Netherlands held a demonstration on Dam Square in Amsterdam against China’s Law on the Promotion of Ethnic Unity and Progress — the Ethnic Unity Law — which came into force that same day. The action was part of a global protest against a law that participants described as an instrument of cultural erasure in Tibet, East Turkestan, Southern Mongolia and Hong Kong.

Behind the language of “unity” lies a law designed to forcibly assimilate Tibetans and other peoples into a single state-controlled identity based on loyalty to the Chinese Communist Party. For Tibetans, the law poses an existential threat to their language, culture, religion and identity.

A broad coalition of communities joined the protest on Dam Square.

A broad coalition

The demonstration was supported by International Campaign for Tibet Europe, the Tibetan community, Uyghurs and several Chinese human rights organisations, including the Independence Party for Cantonia, Anti-CCP NL and the Chinese Democratic Movement in Europe. The participants shared a single message: opposition to policies aimed at erasing their culture, religion, language and identity.

Participants strongly condemned and rejected the law, and pledged to continue their struggle. The law builds on China’s colonial boarding school system, through which an estimated one million Tibetan children have already been separated from their families, their language and their communities. UN experts and the European Parliament have previously warned that the law provides a legal basis for assimilation policies and violates fundamental human rights.

Participants pledged to continue their struggle to protect their culture, language and identity.

Appeal to the Dutch government

The participants called on the Dutch Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation, Sjoerd Sjoerdsma, who travels to China next week, to raise his serious concerns about the Ethnic Unity Law with his Chinese counterparts.

The demonstration sent a clear and powerful message to China’s leaders: solidarity with the Tibetan people — and with all communities affected by this law — remains undiminished.