ICT Europe: Annual Reports & Financial Statements
2003 Annual Report
- Message from the Director
- Government Outreach
- Campaigns
- Political Prisoners
- Panchen Lama
- Tenzin Deleg Rinpoche
- Refugees
- Tibetan Youth Leadership
- 5th European Tibetan Uprising Day
- Publications
- ICT Europe in Media
- www.savetibet.org
- Membership
- Financial Condition
- Auditors' report
Dear friends,
The year 2003 has been a successful one for the International Campaign for Tibet (ICT) Europe with new members joining us in support. ICT Europe accomplished many of the goals we set for ourselves five years ago.
In 2003, ICT Europe worked closely with the Tibet Intergroup of the European Parliament and made considerable effort to ensure the appointment of a European Special Representative for Tibet. And in 2003, the European Parliament passed for the second consecutive year of Council budgetary amendment for such a position. ICT Europe made a substantial contribution to the passage of this important resolution. These are encouraging signs for all of us who have pressed for the appointment of this position within the European Union. But these encouraging signs are still small steps. There is still no concrete commitment on part of the EU to adopt a coherent policy towards the resolution of the Tibetan problem peacefully.
Two thousand three saw the second visit by envoys of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Beijing. While there was no substantial progress on the negotiation front, there is now international recognition that the situation in Tibet must be resolved through negotiations. Despite this, the harsh policies practiced by the Chinese authorities in Tibet remained essentially similar to those of earlier years: restrictions continue to impact on religious life, portraits of the Dalai Lama are still banned in public places. While China's official declarations praise the presumed economic progress in Tibet, in reality the majority of Tibetans live in poverty. We do believe however, that by continuing to build public opinion we can make real progress towards more freedom and democracy in Tibet.
In 2003, ICT Europe continued to work to build support in Europe, both politically and among the public at large. In the course of the year, we made substantial progress towards realizing our objectives by recruiting an additional 6,000 members, increasing total membership to over 30,000 supporting individuals in the Netherlands. This increase in support was achieved with our extensive campaigns, which generated greater awareness of the situation in Tibet and highlighted the importance of the work of ICT Europe.
Lastly, I would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to all members for their continued generosity and support. I also would like to thank our Board members for their continued guidance. ICT Europe looks forward to consolidating its vital work in the year to come to support the Tibetan people in their time of need. This report demonstrates the liveliness and commitment of ICT Europe and it's ability to deliver on its stringent schedule of work, to a high standard of professionalism. This is a testimony to the dedication of its staff.
Tsering Jampa
Director
In 2003, ICT Europe has made the central objective of its governmental work to promote dialogue between the Chinese leadership and the Dalai Lama or his representative. During the year, ICT Europe worked especially closely with the Envoy of His Holiness the Dalai Lama for European Affairs, pursuing the appointment of a EU Special representative for Tibet. ICT Europe kept its focus on securing the necessary budget for this appointment from the EU. ICT Europe made a substantial contribution to the Council's decision to allocate budget for the position for the second consecutive year.
In 2003, ICT Europe made timely intervention at the European Union on behalf of Tibetan political prisoners. ICT Europe was in front to secure a joint declaration by the EU in which they expressed concern over the execution of Lobsang Dhondup and, the sentencing to death of Tenzin Deleg Rinpoche. In 2003, ICT Europe continued to monitor the EU China human rights dialogue and consistently urged the Commission to conduct a meaningful review of effectiveness of the dialogue. ICT Europe regularly attended briefings organized by the EU Presidency in Brussels and brought fresh and compelling information on human rights violations in Tibet directly to the policy makers.
In 2003, ICT Europe continued to enjoy excellent working relationship with Tibet Intergroup of the European Parliament and worked closely with its members to develop strong and active support in the European Parliament. ICT Europe was regularly invited by the Tibet Intergroup to Strasbourg to brief the Intergroup members on Tibetan issues, including the human rights situation and the status of dialogue between the Chinese leadership and the Dalai Lama. These meetings were also frequented by Senior staff members of the Commission and members of Foreign Affairs Committee of the European Parliament.
ICT Europe was center in mobilizing European Parliament support for the passage of a resolution expressing concern over the ongoing human rights violations in Tibet, including the execution of Lobsang Dhondup and, in December 2002, the sentencing to death of Tenzin Deleg Rinpoche. In 2003, ICT Europe launched an electronic newsletter to facilitate and improve communication and coordination of political activities between European parliamentarians. It is published six times a year. In October, ICT Europe was invited to a one-day briefing hosted by the European Parliament China Delegation when members of the Chinese National People's Congress visited the European Parliament.
In November 2003, ICT Europe co-organized with the Tibet Intergroup and Bureau du Tibet in Brussels a European Parliamentarian Forum on Tibet. The parliamentarians from across Europe called on China to drop all preconditions to negotiations with the Dalai Lama and reiterated their call for the immediate appointment of a EU Special Representative for Tibet to facilitate meaningful dialogue between Beijing and Dharamsala. Mr Pema Jungney, Chairman of Assembly of Tibetan People's Deputies, gave the keynote speech. In November, ICT Europe attended the EP debate on lifting the EU arms embargo on China. The parliament passed a resolution overwhelmingly stated that it is too early for the embargo to be lifted as China has yet to make significant positive development with respect to human rights in Tibet and China.
In December, ICT Europe organized with Tibet Intergroup an exhibition in the European Parliament in Strasbourg on the education of Tibetan children inside and outside Tibet. ICT's Panchen Lama exhibition was displayed to rally support for China's release of the young Panchen Lama.
From March - April 2003, ICT Europe joined the Tibetan UN team and highlighted the critical human rights situation in Tibet at the 59th Session of the UN Commission on Human Rights. During the six-week session, the Tibetan team lobbied intensively to broaden support from the delegates to urge China to seek a negotiated settlement on Tibet following the renewed contacts between Chinese leadership and the Tibetans. An unprecedented number of Governments raised the human rights situation in Tibet in their oral statements. Also, Special Rapporteurs on Housing Rights, Religion and Belief, and Torture included substantive sections on Tibet in their written reports to the Commission.
While no China resolution was introduced this year, the issue of Tibet, particularly the current status of the civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights, received attention from the governments, UN experts and NGOs that participated at the Commission. One of the highlights of the Tibetan participation at the Commission was the historic testimony delivered to the Commission by former political prisoner, Takna Jigme Sangpo. The delegates listened to his address with great attention, concern and sympathy. ICT Europe also delivered two statements: one on civil and political rights of the Tibetan people and one on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms. ICT Europe and several other NGOs partnered to convene a roundtable discussion on China's 'closed door' bilateral human rights dialogue with various governments providing an opportunity for NGOs and representatives of China's dialogue partners to exchange views on the efficacy of the dialogue process.
In 2003, ICT Europe focused on the most blatant expressions of religious persecution in Tibet by the Chinese authorities. ICT Europe worked to promote awareness of, and action on, scores of political prisoners. Intensive campaigns were ran on the Panchen Lama, Phuntsog Nyidron and Tenzin Deleg Rinpoche. In March, then Tibets longest serving female political prisoner, Ngawang Sangdrol was released to the United States, five months after her parole from Drapchi prison in Lhasa. In May, ICT Europe organized a successful speaking tour of Ngawang Sangdrol in several European countries. While in Europe, Ngawang Sangdrol also addressed the Tibet Intergroup of the European Parliament, who had campaigned for her release and twice nominated her for the European Parliament's Andre Sakharov Human Rights Award.
In 2003, ICT Europe continued to aggressively campaign for the release of the Panchen Lama, by distributing thousands of Panchen Lama Kits and highlighting his case during the EU-China human rights dialogue, which takes place twice a year. ICT Europe appealed to the United Nation's Committee on the Rights of the Child asking for its intervention in investigating the whereabouts of Gedhun Choekyi Nyima and his family. In 2003, ICT continued to screen Tibet's Stolen Child at gatherings ranging in size from a few dozen to thousands of people. ICT Germany displayed ICT's exhibition 'No Stone Unturned: Ongoing Search for the Panchen Lama' during the 'Kirchen Tag' in Berlin in May, where thousands of people visited the exhibition.
On 2 December 2002, the Chinese authorities in Sichuan province sentenced Tenzin Deleg Rinpoche and Lobsang Dhondup to death. Despite international condemnation and numerous appeals, Lobsang Dhondup was executed on 26 January 2003. The European Union directly issued a statement condemning the Chinese action, while the European Parliament passed a resolution calling upon the European Union to strongly condemn the Chinese government for the execution. ICT Europe, in coalition with several other support groups, produced a pan-European postcard addressed to the President of the European Commission, Romano Prodi, urging him to use his inf luence for the immediate release of Tenzin Deleg Rinpoche. These cards were produced in English, French and German.
In 2003, ICT Europe continued to highlight the deteriorating situation of Tibetan refugees in Nepal as result of the heightened collusion between Nepalese and Chinese authorities. ICT Europe distributed an updated report, Dangerous Crossing, on the conditions impacting the f light of Tibetan refugees. The report, prepared by a staff member of our Washington Office, is based on fact-finding trips to India and Nepal. Following the forcible repatriation of 18 Tibetan refugees from Kathmandu in May 2003, ICT Europe brought news of the offense to the European governments and UN High Commissioner for Refugees so they exert pressure on Nepal Government. ICT Europe worked with Tibet Support Groep Nederland to organize a demonstration at the Nepalese Consulates in Amsterdam and conveyed a petition to express outrage at the deportation of the 18 Tibetans. ICT Europe worked with Tibet Support Groups in Europe to secure an EU statement protesting the action of Nepal Government. ICT Europe members sent over 8000 postcards to Ruud Lubbers, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees urging UNHCR to ensure the safe transit of Tibetan refugees through Nepal.
ICT Europe held the inaugural European Tibetan Youth Leadership program in Brussels from 4 to 9 July 2003. The program provided young Tibetans with the opportunity to build professional and social networks, enhance their skills, and become familiar with issues important institutions and people within the Tibet movement. Thirteen young Tibetans from seven different European countries participated in the program. The intensive four-day program consisted of workshops and discussions on Tibet in international law, including examining the principle of self-determination, Tibetan history including China's perspective, Tibetan activism and media and communications. Ngawang Sangdrol, Tibet's most well known female ex-political prisoner who was on a speaking tour in Europe, became the unofficial 14th leadership program participant. Ngawang-la very much enjoyed taking part in the program and the participants were very inspired by her presence.
On 10 March 2003, ICT Europe worked with TSGs from Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands to organized the fifth large-scale Tibetan National Uprising Day commemoration in Europe, this time held in Brussels. The venue where the march was held became a sea of red, yellow and blue in the 'Chain for Change' in Tibet. Over 2000 Tibet supporters from around the whole of Europe later marched through Brussels streets, creating a powerful and spectacular 3 km-long human chain around key European Union buildings. While commemorating the 44th anniversary of the Tibetan people's uprising against China's occupation, the participants called upon the EU to adopt a coherent policy to resolve the issue of Tibet.
In 2003, ICT Europe published and circulated three issues of its Dutch language newsletter, 'Tibet journal. Tibet Journal is the largest newsletter of its kind in the Netherlands and has established a name for itself among our supporters for its high standard of news and campaign information. Circulation increased from 40,000 in 2002 to 60,000 just one year later. In 2003, ICT Europe continued to contribute news items to the Tibet Press Watch, which is published by ICT in the United States. This year, ICT Europe took the initiative to launch an e-newsletter designed especially for parliamentarians in Europe, 'Tibet Update', which is circulated six times per year. In addition, ICT Europe staged its exhibition featuring the ongoing search for young Panchen Lama.
In 2003, ICT Europe continued to expand its range of media contacts, targeting environmental press, as well as the political, domestic and foreign press. In 2003, ICT Europe's work was widely reported by the Tibetan services of Voice of America, Radio Free Asia and Voice of Tibet and Dutch National Radio World Service. ICT Europe staff also appeared on CNN.
In 2003, ICT Europe continued to prioritize its communication activities. The ICT Europe section of the ICT website was reconfigured to contain updated information about our activities. These changes to the website have ensured greater public awareness of our office and campaigns. The core ICT Europe information is now accessible in the Dutch, French, German languages. In particular, greater details of the Netherlands-based membership program have been added to the site. In 2003, ICT Europe has begun work to enable people to join online.
In 2003, ICT Europe's membership has grown substantially to over 30,000 members. This increase in support was achieved with an extensive ongoing campaign, which generated greater public awareness of the issue of Tibet and the importance of ICT Europe's work. Of our 30,000 members, over 12 % contributed in the form of ongoing pledge-giving program. This ensures that we can plan more effectively for our future campaigns whilst enabling us to reduce our administrative costs. Besides giving donations our members have a very high rate of activity, with over 50 % taking action in 2003. These actions include writing letters to the EU President, sending postcards to the Dutch Foreign Minister and of the United Nation's High Commissioner for Refugees and taking part in demonstrations and events. These, and other forms of activity and awareness raising, ensure that our members and supporters' concerns for Tibet are widely known and make a major contribution to our campaign successes. In June 2003, ICT Europe launched a High Donor Program called Partners for Tibet. At this event Ngawang Sangdrol, Tibet's most famous female former political prisoner spoke about her experience in Chinese prisons and thanked the members for their continued support for Tibetan people. In 2003, ICT Europe raised small funds from outside of its membership program. The majority of ICT Europe's revenue in 2003 came from member donations. ICT Europe continued its telemarketing program by reinstating lapsed members and urging active members to join the ongoing pledge program.
Support for ICT Europe continued to increase in 2003. During the year, ICT Europe raised € 993,193. In 2003, ICT Europe's expenses were € 745,800. 78% of our expenses were for awareness raising programs and 15% for fundraising, well below the administrative costs. Almost 98% of the income comes from donations directly from individuals members. ICT Europe is proud to report that as the income from membership has been steadily growing, allowing ICT Europe in 2003 to stay for the second consecutive year financially self sufficient. In 2003, ICT Europe received a small grant for Tibetan Youth Leadership Program. Click here to view ICT's 2003 Financial Statements.
We have audited the abbreviated financial statements of Nederlandse Stichting (Foundation) International Campaign for Tibet in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, for the year 2003 (as set out on pages 12 to 15). These abbreviated financial statements have been derived from the financial statements of Nederlandse Stichting (Foundation) International Campaign for Tibet in Amsterdam, the Netherlands for the year 2003. In our auditors' report dated 4 mei 2004 we expressed an unqualified opinion on these financial statements. These abbreviated financial statements are the responsibility of the company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these abbreviated financial statements.
In our opinion, these abbreviated financial statements are consistent, in all material respects, with the financial statements from which they have been derived.
For an understanding of the company's financial position and results and for an adequate understanding of the scope of our audit, the abbreviated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the financial statements from which the abbreviated financial statements have been derived and our unqualified auditors' report thereon issued on 4 May 2004.
Oegstgeest, 4 May 2004
CAPACC Accountants B.V.
You can download the PDF version of the 2003 Annual Report here.
