Press Release - 28 August 2005

Free Tibet Campaign's recommendations for UN High Commissioner for Human Rights

Human Rights in Tibet are a precondition for development and security: First visit to China by Louise Arbour, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (HCHR) to begin on 29 August 2005.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (HCHR), Louise Arbour, will make her first visit to China from 29 August to 3 September, during which she will open a Human Rights Symposium and hold bilateral meetings with Chinese President Hu Jintao, Ministers of Justice and Foreign Affairs, and other senior Government officials.

In the HCHR's words: human rights is not a luxury that can be enjoyed after development and security are fully secured. Rather, it is a precondition to both.

"While China celebrates the 40th anniversary of Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) and its so-called economic development, fundamental freedoms are systematically denied from Tibetans. It is time for China to implement its international obligations, respect, promote and protect the human rights of the Tibetan people." said Yael Weisz-Rind of Free Tibet Campaign.

Since being appointed in July 2004, Arbour has emphasized the expanding leadership role of her office, its duty to engage in dialogue and build constructive cooperation with Governments to strengthen national human rights protection: "The office of HCHR is shifting its strategic emphasis from normative development to implementation to close human rights gaps on the ground".

The visit to China would give the HCHR the opportunity to raise the human rights situation in Tibet at the highest levels and advance its strategic priorities with one of the most repressive regimes. Specifically, in the context of her mandate it would be an opportunity for the HCHR to advance a peaceful solution to this half-century long injustice. Free Tibet Campaign has asked her (1) to urge China to drop pre-conditions to negotiations over the future of Tibet, through its formal contact with envoys of the Dalai Lama; persist in efforts to gain access to Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, the 11th Panchen Lama of Tibet, who has been in 'protective' custody for ten years; and press for progress to address the endemic use of torture (2) in Tibet and China as key issues.

Contact: Yael Weisz-Rind 07733 391773 or 020 7324 4605 or Alison Reynolds 07711 843884

Notes to Editors: 1) See Free Tibet Campaign's recommendations for visit of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Louise Arbour, to China August 2005. 2) Another key visit to China of a senior UN official is planned for the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture, Manfred Nowak, from 21 November to 2 December 2005, which will include a visit to Lhasa and in detention facilities.