Geneva — The Society for Threatened Peoples (STP) held a side event during the 61st session of the United Nations Human Rights Council to draw attention to transnational repression, the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) reported.
Panelists included Sarah from STP Germany, Zumrita Akrin of the Uyghur Congress, Lebin Ding representing the Felang Goan Chinese community, and Thinley Chukki, Representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama at the Office of Tibet in Geneva. Delegates from 12 permanent missions and members of civil society attended; more than 40 participants were present.
In opening remarks, Thinley Chukki thanked STP and emphasized the need to amplify the experiences of those who face cross-border repression while seeking practical solutions. She highlighted gaps in international human rights systems that hinder accountability and leave protections for defenders insufficient.
Using the Tibetan experience as an example, Chukki described multiple, interconnected tactics of transnational repression. The CTA report presented at the event alleges that relatives of Tibetans in exile are routinely targeted inside Tibet to intimidate family members abroad. It says Chinese authorities coerce Tibetans within Tibet to provide information about relatives overseas, enabling monitoring and harassment of exiled communities in democratic countries. Exiled institutions such as the Central Tibetan Administration reportedly face sustained efforts to discredit them, including cyberattacks, smear campaigns targeting elected leaders, and pressure on family members. Religious institutions and the legacy of the Dalai Lama were described as being subjected to coordinated defamation, manipulation, and online harassment. The CTA also pointed to digital repression—social media surveillance, online intimidation, and cyber monitoring—used to silence advocacy both inside and outside the country.
On accountability, Chukki urged governments to formally recognise transnational repression as an infringement of sovereignty and a violation of human rights. She praised Switzerland’s official research acknowledging these practices and encouraged similar initiatives elsewhere. Governments should raise awareness within judicial and law enforcement bodies to ensure complaints from victims are taken seriously and should establish accessible reporting mechanisms; Germany’s developing framework was noted as a constructive example.
Chukki also called on UN mechanisms to address retaliation faced by activists and human rights defenders within UN processes, noting that Tibetan and Uyghur representatives often encounter heightened screening and security during UN engagements—an additional form of repression. She concluded by calling for international recognition, comprehensive safeguards, and coordinated action to protect human rights defenders so they can operate without fear.
The event underscored calls from affected communities and civil society for stronger, coordinated responses to cross-border tactics that seek to silence dissent and punish dissenters beyond national borders. The CTA provided the account of the discussions. (ANI)
