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The Tibet Bureau Geneva has released a report on the activities of the Tibet Bureau Geneva in 2019 under the remit of advocacy for Tibet at the United Nations. There were four categories: UN Human Rights Councils; Side Events, UN Special Procedures and the Geneva Forum.

The report states that even though China has accepted 284 recommendations out of 346 made at the UN Human Rights Council, it has refused some critical recommendations on Tibet and other minority areas under its rule. China has repeatedly refused to facilitate free access to Tibet and East Turkestan [Ch:Xinjiang] for foreign media, UN officials and foreign officials; as well as refusing to cease interference in the selection and education of religious leaders, to end persecution on the basis on religion and belief, and to stop the restriction of free movement of Tibetans and Uighurs.

The report also states that a number of side events have been held on UN premises in order to strengthen UN advocacy for the Tibetan cause. All the speakers, as well as representatives from the Central Tibetan Administration and other non government orgnisations, Tibetan activists at these events have spoken of the situation inside Tibet and the restrictions on Tibetans’ basic human rights such as freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom of movement and assembly, and the freedom to preserve and practise one’s own language and culture.

“The report highlights the common message of ‘hope and never give up’ adopted by Tibetans in the struggle for freedom, we have come a long way and there is much more ground left to cover. We convey our sincere gratitude to all our supporters for their consistent support in our struggle and appeal to them to continue to do so until we reach our goal.” said Representative Chhimey Rigzin in his foreword to the report.

The offices of Tibet, or Tibet Bureaus, are the official agencies of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Central Tibetan Administration which are based in India. There are 13 Offices of Tibet located in different parts of the world, their primary work is advocating and garnering support for Tibet’s freedom in addition to providing cultural and religious centres for the Tibetan diaspora around the world.