The Fifth Geneva Forum took place on 26th-27th October 2023, bringing together academics, politicians, and activists. Well-known active figures participated representing Tibetan, Uighur, Hong Kong, Taiwanese, and Mongolian communities. The likes of Dibyesh Anand, Josh Rogin, and Dr. Gyal Lo, came together to discuss the increasingly egregious human rights violations committed by the CCP against these peoples. This forum holds great current importance given the upcoming Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of China’s human rights record – a United Nations process held in January 2024. A review during which China can be held accountable for all its violations of international codes by all UN participatory countries.
The forum was separated into four panels:
- Human Rights Trends: Situations in Regions Under China
- Silencing Voices: China’s Assimilationist Policy and Crackdown on Defenders
- Development or Neo-colonisation? Tibet and Regions Under China
- China’s Global Footprints: Surveillance and Transnational Repression
Speakers gave powerful talks, often drawing open personal testimony to illustrate the severity of the CCP’s violations, such as its increasingly insidious use of mass DNA harvesting and biometric surveillance for its obsession with total control. Together, they provided a penetrating and wide-reaching analysis of the CCP’s crimes and techniques, and proposed concrete actions the international community must take to prevent them.
The forum had a great youth turnout, strengthening the international community with networking between the different representative groups. Attendees noted that the forum helped in understanding how the UPR platform can be used to inform the world about the realities of Tibet. V-TAG is honoured to have represented Tibetans at the 2023 Geneva Conference, and looks forward to working with old friends and new in the future.
If you’d like to learn more about how you can advocate for Tibet, and take part in future forums and conferences, reach out to us using the button below.
