Rights groups demand more religious, linguistic and cultural freedoms for Tibetans

2.06.2022

Mandakini Jathavethan

Tibet and Human Rights Researcher,

Global Human Rights Defence.

On the occasion of Children’s Day in China celebrated on June 1st, the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy issued an open letter to Chinese President Xi Jinping to end the forced assimilation policy implemented in Tibet. The letter called on him to repeal discriminatory laws and practices aimed at curtailing the freedom of expression of Tibetans in their religious beliefs, language, and culture. In particular, it highlighted the effects of the Chinese “Second Generation Ethnic Policy” whose implementation resulted in the closure of multiple private Tibetan schools that were essential to preserving the Tibetan language and culture. The plight of teacher Rinchen Kyi, who was imprisoned on the charge of inciting separatism when she conducted a hunger strike upon the closure of her school was also highlighted. 

The letter ended with nine recommendations “to enable Tibetans to exercise their human rights to education, language, culture and religion” (Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy, 2022).  These included a review of existing policies on education and language rights, provision for Tibetan children to be able to learn Tibetan language, the release of those imprisoned for advocating for their language rights, revision of the Bilingual Education Policy that promotes the usage of Mandarin Chinese as a medium of instruction in schools, to the detriment of Tibetan language, and to comply with other recommendations issued by various UN treaty bodies. 

Article 13(3) of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) obliges state parties to recognise the liberty of parents to choose the moral and religious education of their children according to their personal convictions. China ratified the ICESCR on 27 March 2001. Its actions have failed to uphold its international human rights law commitments towards its Tibetan citizens.

Article 30 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) further recognises the right of children belonging to ethnic, religious or linguistic minorities to enjoy their own culture, religion and language. China is a state party to the CRC by virtue of its ratification on 2 March 1992. By its actions, China has failed to uphold its international human rights law obligations towards Tibetan children.

Sources and further reading:

Lhamo C., (2022, June 2). Rights group demands Xi Jinping to end ‘cultural assimilation policy’ in open letter. https://www.phayul.com/2022/06/02/47162/.

Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy, (2022, June 1). Open Letter To President Xi Jinping To End Forced Cultural Assimilation Policy In Tibet. https://tchrd.org/open-letter-to-president-xi-jinping-to-end-forced-cultural-assimilation-policy-in-tibet/