On 10 December, 2024, the European Union (EU) delegation in China issued a statement marking International Human Rights Day, reaffirming the EU’s commitment to the protection of human rights globally. The statement highlighted ongoing concerns about human rights abuses in China, with particular reference to Tibet and expressed the EU’s serious concerns about the deterioration of civil, cultural, and political freedoms. 

The EU highlighted the severe restrictions placed on freedom of speech, expression, movement and assembly in Tibetan areas where Tibetans continue to face tight controls on their ability to express dissent. The statement also noted the ongoing limitations on international travel for Tibetans, with restrictions on obtaining passports and stringent controls on the movement of Tibetan religious leaders, such as Lamas. 

The EU expressed concerns over the repression of religious freedoms, including the monitoring and restriction of religious practices. Tibetan Buddhism remains under increasing state control, with religious practices being aligned with the ideology of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). 

The statement also flagged the establishment of mandatory boarding schools for Tibetan children, where children are forcefully separated from their families, as a significant concern for the preservation of Tibetan cultural and linguistic identity. 

The EU delegation raised alarms about efforts to suppress Tibetan language and culture, citing the closure of schools that teach in Tibetan, such as the Jigme Gyaltsen Nationalities Vocational School in Golog. Such closures, along with the promotion of Mandarin-language education, risk leading to cultural erasure. 

The EU reiterated its call for the immediate and unconditional release of 6 Tibetan political prisoners (Chadrel Rinpoche, Anya Sangdra, Go Sherab Gytaso, Golog Palden, Semkyi Dolma and Tashi Dorje) arbitrarily detained for exercising their fundamental rights. It emphasised the importance of fair trials, the abolition of practices like “Residential Surveillance at a Designated Location” (RSDL), and an end to torture and ill-treatment. The EU’s concerns regarding arbitrary detention extend to Tibetan political prisoners, particularly those arrested for peaceful advocacy of Tibetan rights and independence. 

The EU delegation reaffirmed the importance of international engagement with Tibet, encouraging more visits from the international community and civil society organisations to monitor the situation and promote dialogue. A side visit to Tibet took place in June 2024 as part of the 39th EU-China Human Rights Dialogue, demonstrating the EU’s ongoing interest in raising human rights concerns in the region. 

In conclusion, the EU’s statement on International Human Rights Day 2024 underscores its ongoing concern about the human rights situation in Tibet. The delegation called on China to respect and protect the rights of Tibetans, emphasising the importance of cultural preservation, religious freedom, and the right to self-expression. The EU also urged China to engage more constructively with international human rights mechanisms and to create an environment where Tibetans can freely practice their religion and maintain their cultural identity. 

The full statement is available here.

Source: Tibet.net