The International Campaign for Tibet delivered a statement at the 16th UN Forum on Minority Issues that took place on 30 November and 1 December in Geneva, exposing the discriminatory and disempowering policies Tibetans suffer under Chinese rule.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In his opening remarks, the newly appointed UN Special Rapporteur on Minority Issues Nicolas Levrat stressed \u201chow guaranteeing and promoting minority specific positions contributes to the richness and cohesion of national societies.\u201d While claiming to respect the rights of so-called minorities, China, in contrast to this, implements systemic discriminatory policies curtailing the rights of Tibetans and Uyghurs to fully and fairly participate in decisions directly impacting their lives and livelihoods. This treatment only exacerbates a myriad of additional human rights violations impacting the very fabric of their civilizations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In her statement to the forum, ICT\u2019s Policy and Advocacy Officer M\u00e9lanie Blondelle illustrated the discrimination and inequalities Tibetans face in all aspects of their lives, including erasure of their mother tongue, which puts them at a disadvantage in the labor market; the forced resettlement of Tibetan nomads, farmers and rural population; and underrepresentation of Tibetans at all levels of government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n