On 19 June 2024, the Declaration+25 was launched to supplement the original UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, adopted 25 years ago. The Declaration has been pivotal in affirming the right to defend human rights and outlining the responsibilities of states and society to support and protect human rights defenders. Despite its influence, implementation has been inconsistent. In response, 18 human rights organizations consulted over 700 defenders and experts to identify areas for improvement.
The Declaration+25, grounded in international law and defenders’ lived experiences, aims to ensure more robust protection for human rights defenders now and in the future.
The Resolve Tibet Act has been passed by the House of Representatives, which is a huge step forward for a bill that aims to bring China back to the negotiating table with His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Central Tibetan Administration.
The bill will clarify American policy, telling China that the dispute with China is not resolved. It also refutes Beijing's false claim that Tibet has historically belonged to China and states that the PRC has failed to meet the expectations of the United States to engage in meaningful dialogue with Tibetans.
The Chinese government’s Universal Periodic Review (UPR) at the UN Human Rights Council is scheduled for Jan. 23 in Geneva. The UPR takes place just once every five years, and it gives countries around the world the chance to raise concerns and demand answers from Beijing about its human rights violations.
Issued on the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on 10 December 2023.
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Global reports on the state of democracy and human rights indicate that democracy is threatened and authoritarianism is on the rise. Civic space and freedoms are fiercely and increasingly restricted in many countries. In addition, democratic backsliding or a decline in the quality of democracy is occurring in newer as well as long-established democracies across all regions.
In this situation, the United Nations needs to do more to strengthen human rights and democracy. The undersigned organizations and individuals thus call for the creation of a new mandate by the UN’s Human Rights Council: a UN Special Rapporteur on Democracy (UNRoD).
Protecting human rights is a fundamental pillar of the UN and democracy is one of its core values. The opening words of the UN Charter, “We the Peoples,” imply support for democracy. They underscore the central democratic principle that public authority must derive from the will of the people.
A democratic society offers the best conditions for guaranteeing human rights for all, in particular minorities and excluded groups. At the same time, full implementation of human rights is a foundation of a democratic society. The UN needs to recognize the nexus between democracy and human rights and help further strengthen democratic governance. A UN Special Rapporteur on Democracy will serve this purpose.
From the Desk of the President of the International Campaign for Tibet 10/21/2023
Recent reports out of Tibet have detailed the activities of Gyaltsen Norbu, the man China’s government appointed as a false “Panchen Lama.” If you’re not familiar with the structure of Tibetan Buddhism, it’s complex, but suffice to say the Panchen Lama is one of the most significant figures in our religion. Traditionally, he has played a role in the process of identifying the next Dalai Lama, and vice versa.
The very fact that China abducted the Panchen Lama selected by the Dalai Lama, and replaced him with their own selected “Panchen Lama” is a gross insult of Tibetan Buddhism. But now the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has taken this another step further, using their selected official to broadcast the CCP’s message calling for “Tibetan Buddhism to adapt to socialist society.” He’s been turned into a puppet trying to encourage Tibetan Buddhists to endorse Xi Jinping and reject His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama.
With China’s recent issuing of Order 19, the government is taking the next step in its effort to Sinify Tibetan Buddhism—and their attempts to use the false Panchen Lama to spread adherence to Xi Jinping are all part of their plan.
Issued on the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on 10 December 2023.