Tibetans and their supporters are gathering at the United Nations in Geneva on September 16 for a rally to highlight injustice in Tibet, express solidarity with Tibetans, and to call for religious freedom.

Tibetan Buddhist monks from The Tibet Institute in Rikon, Switzerland, will recite prayers to open the rally, which will also feature a statement by Richard Gere, Chair of the International Campaign for Tibet. Following are details of the event that is jointly organized by Tibetan Community in Switzerland and Liechtenstein, Tibetan Youth Association in Europe, Tibetan Women’s Association in Switzerland, and the International Campaign for Tibet.

  • 11:30 am – 12:45 pm: March from Palais Wilson, Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, (note: Lake side; 52 rue des Pâquis, CH-1201 Geneva)
  • 12:45 pm – 14:45 pm Rally at ‘Broken Chair’, Place des Nations, Geneva.

Tibetans and supporters will call for religious freedom in Tibet outside the United Nations building in the opening week of the 33rd session of the UN Human Rights Council.

Speakers include the niece of a prominent Tibetan lama, Tenzin Delek Rinpoche, who died in prison last year; Uyghur leader in exile Rebiya Kadeer; European Parliamentarians, and Tibetan monk Golog Jigme, who escaped into exile after suffering torture in prison.

Kai Mueller, Head of UN Advocacy for the International Campaign for Tibet, said: “Since 2008, the Chinese authorities have instilled an oppressive and totalitarian environment in Tibetan Buddhist monasteries and nunneries – an approach in which the state recognizes no limits to its authority, and strives to regulate every aspect of religious life. In recent weeks, three young Tibetan nuns have committed suicide in despair at demolition of their homes at the globally renowned institute of Larung Gar in eastern Tibet. Tibetans and their supporters in Geneva are gathering for this rally to highlight this injustice, express solidarity with Tibetans, and to call for religious freedom.”

Speakers at rally:

  • Ms. Nyima Lhamo, niece of the deceased prominent Tibetan Buddhist leader Tenzin Delek Rinpoche;
  • Ms. Rabiya Kadeer, President of the World Uyghur Congress (WUC);
  • Ven. Golog Jigme Gyatso, former Tibetan political prisoner and human rights activist;
  • Office of Thomas Mann, MEP, President of the Tibet Interest Group in the European Parliament;
  • Ms. Liza Mazzoni, Swiss Member of Parliament;
  • Mr. Martin Bursik, former Vice-Prime Minister and Minister for the Environment of the Czech Republic;
  • Ven. Thupten Wangchen, Tibetan Member of Parliament;
  • Mr. Ngodup Dorjee, Representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama;
  • Mr. José Amrein-Murer, Swiss-Tibetan Friendship Association;
  • Mr. Kai Mueller, Head of UN Advocacy, International Campaign for Tibet.

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