Ottawa, January 28, 2019 – Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland said in a written statement issued Monday that Canada remains deeply concerned about the human rights situation affecting Tibetans, including restrictions on freedom of expression and freedom of religion or belief, as well as the protection of linguistic and cultural rights. Freeland’s statement came in response to a petition submitted to the House of Commons by MP Randall Garrison and his intern Ms. Khando Langri. [1]
The statement also mentions that Canada has raised concerns regarding human rights practices directly with Chinese authorities on numerous occasions. According to the statement, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang had a frank and open discussion on human rights, freedom of expression, and freedom of religion as part of the third Canada-China Annual Leaders’ Dialogue on November 14, 2018. In the same year, Canada raised concerns about Tibet issues at a Ministerial Meeting to Advance Religious Freedom in Washington, and at the 3rd Universal Periodic Review of China in Geneva.
“We are grateful to the Government of Canada for continuing to raise concerns about human rights violations in Tibet,” said Sherap Therchin, Executive Director of Canada Tibet Committee. “We call upon the Government of China to respect the cultural, linguistic, religious and economic rights of Tibetans.”
In her statement, Minister Freeland also said that “Canada will continue to raise its concerns about the human rights situation in China and Tibet, and we will continue to call on China to live up to its international obligations.”
In November 2018, the Government of Canada announced $5.4 million funding to promote the preservation of Tibetan language and culture through gender-responsive teaching practices in Tibetan schools in India and Nepal. [2]
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[1] Minister Freeland’s statement is found here: http://www.ourcommons.ca/Content/ePetitions/Responses/421/e-1743/421-03025_GAC_E.pdf
[2] Canadian funding for Tibet education: https://tibet.net/2018/11/canadian-government-announces-5-4-million-in-funding-for-tibetan-education/