Geneva — "International Community and Human Rights Council must act on Tibet": More than 1,000 Tibetans and supporters including speakers from 6 European countries participated in Grand Tibet Solidarity rally in Geneva, urging the United Nations Human Rights Council to act on Tibet.
Coinciding with 35th UN Human Rights Council session taking place in Geneva and according to official announcement of 2017 as Year of Campaign by the Kashag, Central Tibetan Administration, according a report by the Office of Tibet in Geneva.
More than a thousand Tibetans and Tibet supporters and speakers from six European countries (Czech Republic, England, France, Germany, Italy and Switzerland) rallied on 9 June in Geneva to call on the international community and the United Nations Human Rights Council to act on Tibet.
The rally being organized by the Tibetan Community in Switzerland & Liechtenstein, the Swiss Tibetan Friendship Association (GSTF) and the International Campaign for Tibet, a number of speakers addressed the deteriorating human rights situation in Tibet, particularly referring to the recent case of self-immolations in Tibet this year with sense of solidarity from the international communities.
"On posters and placards, rally participants called for the release of the Panchen Lama and Tibetan language advocate Tashi Wangchuk," according to the Office of Tibet, Geneva.
In a joint memorandum to United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights said, the organizations called for an end of human rights violations in Tibet, the release of the Panchen Lama including all political prisoners, and access to Tibet for the Human Rights High Commissioner.
The organizations also called the UN member states to make China accountability in the upcoming universal periodic review of the PRC in 2018 in the Human Rights Council.
The rally started off at Palais Wilson and moved on in front of the Palais des Nations, the seat of the United Nations in Geneva.
Among the speakers were Martin Bursik, former Deputy Prime Minister of the Czech Republic, Norman Baker, former deputy home minister of the UK, Chinese journalist and dissident Zhang Phing from Germany, André Gattolin, member of the French Senate, Rene Longet, former member of the Swiss parliament, Yvan Rochat, Mayor of Vernier GE and member of the Green Party, Stefano Dallari, President of Casa del Tibet as well as Jampa Tsering Samdho, member of the Tibetan parliament in exile.
The rally concluded at 3 pm followed by recitation of prayer to mark Sa Ka dawa led by abbot of Rikon monastery.
