Hydropower Repression and Resistance: Tibet at the United Nations

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Tibet at the United Nations

The 59th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UN HRC59), held between 16 June and 9 July, brought renewed attention to the worsening human rights situation in Tibet. The session, held in Geneva, addressed urgent crises around the world, including armed conflicts, environmental collapse, and crackdowns on civil liberties. Among them, China’s systematic repression in Tibet drew sharp scrutiny from civil society and several UN member states.

High Commissioner’s Tepid Acknowledgment

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk acknowledged human rights violations in Tibet in his oral update. However, his comments were general in tone and failed to meet the expectations of Tibetan advocacy groups, who had called for a more explicit condemnation of China’s repressive policies in the region.

Strong Civil Society Engagement on Tibet

The International Campaign for Tibet (ICT), speaking on behalf of the Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights, played an active role in the session. ICT’s EU Policy Director, Vincent Metten, delivered an oral statement during the Interactive Dialogue with the UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Assembly and Association. He spotlighted the imprisonment of three Tibetan monks Drugdra, Lobsang Khedrub, and Lobsang Gephel jailed since 2015 for organizing a celebration of the Dalai Lama’s 80th birthday. Nearly a decade later, the monks remain imprisoned without medical care or access to their families.

This case underscores China’s continued criminalization of religious expression in Tibet an explicit violation of Article 18 of both the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

In a formal right of reply, Chinese delegate Ouyang Ruize launched a direct attack on the Dalai Lama, labeling him “a tool of international anti-China forces” and falsely branding him a source of instability in Tibet.

China Uses UN Platform to Attack NGOs

The Chinese delegation also attempted to discredit international scrutiny. In another formal right of reply, delegate Zhu Yuejiangnan accused unnamed countries of “using NGOs to spread lies” and claimed these countries were “on the opposite side of the international community.” Zhu further asserted that China was “fully respecting customs and traditions of local people” a claim directly contradicted by extensive documentation of repression in Tibet.

Side Events Draw High-Level International Participation

Several side events, held at the Palais des Nations, highlighted Tibet-specific issues with support from UN officials and state representatives.

  • On Religious Freedom and Reincarnation:
    At an event organized by the Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights, ICT President Tencho Gyatso, education expert Dr. Gyal Lo (Tibet Action Institute), and Gloria Montgomery (Tibet Justice Center) exposed China’s manipulation of the Tibetan reincarnation system. UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief, Nazila Ghanea, delivered a recorded statement condemning Beijing’s interference and demanding the repeal of laws controlling religious appointments. She also called for disclosure of the whereabouts of the abducted 11th Panchen Lama.
  • UK-led Event on Tibetan Buddhism and Religious Freedom:
    Another major side event, hosted by the UK Mission and co-sponsored by 15 countries including Germany, Canada, and Australia, addressed China’s political interference in the succession of Tibetan spiritual leaders. The panel featured UN Special Rapporteur Ghanea, the Dalai Lama’s Representative Thinlay Chukki, activist Chemi Lhamo, and UK Special Envoy David Smith MP.
  • On Transnational Repression:
    A third event, co-organized by the International Service for Human Rights and Campaign for Uyghurs, explored threats faced by Tibetan, Uyghur, and Hong Kong activists abroad. Speakers included Thinlay Chukki, Topjor Tsultrim (Students for a Free Tibet), Amy Siu (Freiheit für Hongkong), and Rushan Abbas (Campaign for Uyghurs).

Tibet’s Environmental Crisis Highlighted

ICT also addressed the UN Special Rapporteur on Climate Change and Human Rights, warning of the environmental and human cost of China’s dam-building spree on the Tibetan Plateau. Since 2000, at least 193 hydropower projects have been built or planned, displacing thousands of Tibetans, destroying monasteries, and damaging fragile ecosystems.

Drawing from its December 2024 report, Chinese Hydropower: Damning Tibet’s Culture, Community, and Environment, ICT emphasized that up to 1.2 million Tibetans could lose their homes if dam construction continues. It warned that these so-called “green energy” projects contribute significant methane emissions and cultural erasure. ICT called for an immediate halt to the projects and urged international actors not to finance them.

Key Takeaways

  • Widespread Concern: The presence of multiple side events, statements by UN Special Rapporteurs, and co-sponsorship from 15 nations signals growing international concern over China’s human rights violations in Tibet.
  • China’s Denial Strategy: The Chinese delegation relied on familiar denial tactics, including attacking NGOs, discrediting the Dalai Lama, and making unsubstantiated claims about “respecting traditions.”
  • UN Support for Tibetan Rights: Despite China’s aggressive pushback, the UN Human Rights Council session gave Tibetan voices a platform and reaffirmed Tibet as a global human rights concern.

The 59th session of the Human Rights Council made it clear: China’s actions in Tibet are under scrutiny, and civil society—backed by member states and UN bodies will not allow the issue to be buried.

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