Ottawa, ON, March 12, 2024 – In a significant move to address critical human rights issues in Tibet, the Centre for International Policy Studies (CIPS) at the University of Ottawa, in partnership with the Human Rights Research and Education Centre (HRREC), the Canada Tibet Committee, and the U.S. Embassy in Canada announces the upcoming seminar “Assessing the PRC’s Assimilation Policies in Tibet.” Set for March 12, 2024, from 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm at FSS 4007, 120 University Private, this event is poised to make a meaningful impact in the discourse on Tibet’s future.
This seminar is particularly noteworthy in light of the U.S. government’s announcement last year of travel restrictions on Chinese officials implicated in the forced assimilation of over one million Tibetan children into state-run boarding schools. This action, championed by Uzra Zeya, Under Secretary of State for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights and U.S. Special Coordinator for Tibetan Issues, marks a significant stance by the United States in the fight against human rights abuses in Tibet. Under Secretary Zeya’s participation as a keynote speaker is expected to offer valuable insights into collaborative efforts to promote human rights in Tibet.
In anticipation of the event, Sherap Therchin, Executive Director of the Canada Tibet Committee, expressed his views, stating, “This seminar represents a pivotal moment in our ongoing efforts to address the human rights challenges faced by the Tibetan people. By bringing together leading voices from the U.S. and Canada, including the esteemed Under Secretary Uzra Zeya, we are not just highlighting the pressing issues in Tibet, but also demonstrating a unified front against the PRC’s assimilation policies. We stand at a critical juncture where international collaboration and dialogue are key to making substantive progress.”
The seminar also resonates with the backdrop of Canada’s parliamentary study on the forced separation of Tibetan children into residential schools, a move that has led Canada to urge China to end such practices, reflecting on its own historical challenges with indigenous residential schools.
Other distinguished speakers include Dr. Namgyal Choedup, Representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Office of Tibet in North America, and Dr. Tashi Rabgey, Research Professor of International Affairs at George Washington University. The session will be moderated by Alex Neve, Senior Fellow at the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs, University of Ottawa, with opening remarks by Joya Donnelly, Global Affairs Canada’s Director General of North East Asia, and closing remarks by Samphe Lhalungpa of the Canada Tibet Committee.
This event aims to not only shed light on the PRC’s policies in Tibet, but also to enhance the discourse on Tibetan issues through robust collaboration between Canada and the United States. It highlights the strong partnership between these nations, aiming to foster comprehensive understanding and a unified international approach to addressing critical human rights issues in Tibet.
For media inquiries, please contact:
Media Relations, University of Ottawa: media@uOttawa.ca
Press Office, US Embassy Ottawa: Ottawa-press@state.gov
Sherap Therchin, Executive Director, Canada Tibet Committee: sherap23@gmail.com