Tenzin Nyidon
DHARAMSHALA, June 4: The Dharamshala-based research outfit Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD) on Thursday launched its 2025 Annual Report on the ‘Human Rights Situation in Tibet’ alongside its ‘Religious Freedom Report (2012–2025)’, warning of a deteriorating human rights situation under Chinese repressive rule.
Speaking at a press conference held at TCHRD’s office here, Executive Director Tenzin Dawa outlined the report’s findings, describing 2025 as a year marked by intensified efforts by the People’s Republic of China to tighten political and ideological control across Tibet.
Among the report’s key concerns is the continued erosion of Tibetan language and cultural identity through state-led education policies prioritising Mandarin Chinese. Dawa pointed to China’s newly enacted Preschool Education Law, which expands the use of Putonghua in early childhood education, further marginalising Tibetan-medium instruction. She said the policy reflects a broader government strategy aimed at weakening the intergenerational transmission of Tibetan language, culture, and identity.
The report also highlighted severe restrictions on the right to peaceful assembly across Tibet. According to TCHRD, Tibetans opposing environmentally damaging mining operations and infrastructure projects have faced mass arrests, intimidation, intrusive surveillance, violence, and collective punishment imposed on entire communities.
Dawa further drew attention to China’s expanding campaign of transnational repression targeting Tibetan religious figures and activists beyond its borders. One of the most alarming cases documented in the reporting period, she noted, was the extrajudicial killing of Tibetan religious leader Tulku Hungkar Dorje in Vietnam following his detention during a joint operation involving Chinese and Vietnamese authorities.
The annual report examines five principal areas of concern: freedom of religion and belief, arbitrary detention and torture, education and language rights, freedom of peaceful assembly, and transnational repression.
Presenting findings from the Religious Freedom Report, Tibetan researcher Dawa Tashi said restrictions on religious practice remained one of the most pressing human rights concerns in Tibet between 2012 and 2025. He highlighted the revised “Measures for the Administration of Tibetan Buddhist Temples,” issued in December 2024 and implemented from January 1, 2025.
According to him, the revised regulations further institutionalise state control over religious affairs by requiring Tibetan Buddhist monasteries and monastic personnel to uphold Chinese Communist Party leadership and actively support the state’s policy of “Sinicisation” of religion.
During the press conference, Phayul questioned the effectiveness of appealing to international institutions such as the United Nations, given China’s status as both a permanent member of the UN Security Council and the organisation’s second-largest financial contributor.
Responding to the question, Dawa acknowledged the limitations of existing international mechanisms and the challenges posed by the influence of powerful states within multilateral institutions. While emphasising the need for structural reforms, she argued that the United Nations remains an indispensable platform for documenting human rights violations, amplifying Tibetan voices, and drawing global attention to the worsening situation inside Tibet.
Addressing the impact of TCHRD’s advocacy efforts, the senior researcher conceded that it is difficult to quantify the immediate effects of reports, appeals, and international advocacy on conditions inside Tibet. Nevertheless, she stressed that documenting abuses and maintaining sustained international engagement remain vital for keeping Tibet on the global agenda, even when tangible outcomes are difficult to discern amid broader geopolitical realities.
