Tenzin Nyidon
DHARAMSHALA, June 4: The 9th World Parliamentarians’ Convention on Tibet (WPCT), organized by the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile, concluded in Tokyo on Wednesday with the unanimous adoption of six key resolutions honoring the life and legacy of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, ahead of his 90th birthday on July 6, 2025. The resolution highlights his enduring commitment to global peace, compassion, and Tibetan identity, and pledges international support to uphold his vision.
The WPCT delegates extended their heartfelt congratulations to His Holiness, hailing his tireless advocacy for the oneness of humanity, universal responsibility, religious tolerance, environmental sustainability, and democratic values. In coordination with the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA), the WPCT called for 2025 to be observed globally as the “Year of Compassion” in honor of the Dalai Lama’s immense contributions to humanity.
The resolutions reaffirmed support for His Holiness’s four principal commitments: the promotion of basic human values; fostering inter-religious harmony; preserving Tibet’s unique culture, language, and environment; and reviving ancient Indian wisdom. Delegates further endorsed His Holiness’s central role in determining the future of his reincarnation, asserting that the authority lies solely with him and the Gaden Phodrang Trust, rejecting any external interference from the Chinese government.
The convention concluded with prayers for His Holiness’s long life and good health, acknowledging his ongoing spiritual and moral guidance as essential to the survival of Tibetan religion, culture, and environment, as well as to the greater good of the world.
In addition to the six-point resolution, the WPCT adopted the Tokyo Declaration and the Tokyo Action Plan, both aimed at deepening global engagement on the Tibet issue. The Tokyo Declaration urged parliamentarians worldwide to reject China’s distorted historical narrative on Tibet and to support the Tibetan people’s right to self-determination. It called on the People’s Republic of China (PRC) to resume substantive and unconditional dialogue with the representatives of His Holiness the Dalai Lama or the democratically elected Tibetan leadership to peacefully resolve the long-standing Tibet-China conflict through the Middle Way Approach.
The declaration also condemned ongoing human rights violations and the aggressive sinicization of Tibetan Buddhism, which threatens the very fabric of Tibetan identity and spiritual life. It called on governments to provide moral and material support for the Tibetan people’s non-violent movement and to bolster the CTA through targeted policies and capacity-building programs.
The declaration also demanded the immediate release of the 11th Panchen Lama, Gedhun Choekyi Nyima—who remains forcibly disappeared since 1995—and all other Tibetan political prisoners. Furthermore, it rejected China’s recent push to rename Tibet as “Xizang.”
The Tokyo Action Plans on Tibet proposed 32 parliamentary actions on Tibet and 14 government-level actions on Tibet urging parliamentarians across the democratic nations to support the Tibetan people’s legitimate aspirations for dignity, autonomy, and environmental protection through foreign policy, raising awareness, and protecting human rights.
The Tokyo Action Plan outlined a comprehensive framework of 32 parliamentary and 14 governmental actions aimed at amplifying international advocacy for Tibet. These include elevating Tibet in foreign policy agendas, advancing awareness on Tibet’s environmental crisis and cultural suppression, and actively defending the human rights of Tibetans under Chinese rule.
Since its inception in New Delhi in 1994, the WPCT has served as a pivotal platform for building coordinated parliamentary action in support of the Tibetan cause. Previous editions have been hosted in Vilnius (1995), Washington D.C. (1997), Edinburgh (2005), Rome (2009), Ottawa (2012), Riga (2019), and Washington D.C. again in 2022, reflecting the enduring commitment of global parliamentarians to justice for Tibet.
The overarching goal of the WPCT remains to mobilize global parliamentary advocacy for the survival of Tibet’s unique identity, advance religious freedom and human rights within Tibet, and encourage renewed dialogue between the Tibetan leadership and the Chinese government for a peaceful, negotiated resolution to the Tibet issue.
