The human rights situation in Tibet is one of our most important areas of focus. Since the Chinese occupation in 1950, the fundamental rights of the Tibetan people have been systematically violated.
Key issues:
Freedom of expression
Tibetans who peacefully express their views on political, cultural, or religious matters are often arrested, tortured, and sentenced to long prison terms.
Arbitrary detention
Tibetans are regularly arrested and held without charge or fair trial, often in secret detention centers where torture and abuse are commonplace.
Enforced disappearances
Activists, monks, nuns, and other critics of Chinese policy regularly disappear, with their families receiving no information about their whereabouts or well-being for years.
Restriction of movement
Tibetans are restricted in their freedom of movement, both within Tibet and for travel abroad. Pilgrimages to sacred sites are often obstructed.
Our work in this area:
- Documenting and reporting human rights violations in Tibet
- Campaigns for the release of political prisoners
- Lobbying the Dutch government and the EU to place human rights at the center of relations with China
- Collaboration with international human rights organizations such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch
- Raising awareness about the human rights situation in Tibet through media, events, and publications
Case study: Political prisoners
A concrete example of our work is the campaign for the release of Tibetan political prisoners. We take action for people such as Tashi Wangchuk, a language activist who was sentenced to five years in prison for peacefully advocating for the right to Tibetan language education.
Through petitions, letters to the Chinese authorities, and creating international attention, we contribute to the pressure on China to release political prisoners and improve their treatment.