Tsering Dhundup
DHARAMSHALA, Oct. 1: A group of Tibetan activists from six European countries gathered in Brussels for the ‘Tibetan Empowerment Days’ last week, advocating for greater European support for Tibet in the face of rising human rights abuses in Tibet.
A four-day event organized by the International Campaign for Tibet (ICT) from September 23-26, 12 participants from Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Ireland, and the Netherlands came together to meet with EU policymakers.
The activists met with 15 Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) and their representatives, pressing for the re-establishment of the Tibet Intergroup within the European Parliament. The group also focused on ensuring that commitments made under the “Pledge for Tibet” campaign, which many EU candidates signed before the elections, are transformed into concrete actions.
Vincent Metten, ICT’s EU Policy Director, stressed the urgency of the event, saying, “As the human rights situation inside Tibet deteriorates at an alarming pace, it is crucial that Tibet remains on the European political agenda and that Members of the European Parliament take new initiatives in support of the Tibetan people.”
The event began with a comprehensive training session covering EU-China policies, recent developments in Tibet, and effective advocacy and communication techniques. Following the training, participants engaged in meetings with MEPs from various political groups, addressing critical concerns such as transnational repression, China’s interference in Tibetan Buddhist leadership succession, environmental degradation on the Tibetan plateau, and China’s growing influence in Europe.
Among the notable participants, Ms. Tenzin Dawa, Executive Director of the rights group, Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy, presented a report detailing China’s transnational repression of Tibetans. The activists also held discussions with representatives from the European External Action Service (EEAS) and non-governmental organizations, including Amnesty International and the World Uyghur Congress.
The event follows the EU4Tibet campaign in April, during which over 100 European election candidates signed the “Pledge for Tibet,” committing to support Tibetan causes if elected. Supported by the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy and the Office of Tibet in Brussels, the Tibetan Empowerment Days further amplified the call for action, reinforcing the importance of sustained European engagement with Tibetan human rights issues.
