The delegation will be composed of parliamentarians Konchok Yangphel, Lhagyari Namgyal Dolkar, and Geshe Monlam Tharchin. Their visit to the Nordic region underscores the ongoing challenges faced by Tibetans in Tibet, emphasizing issues such as human rights abuses, cultural erosion, and calls for greater global recognition of Tibet’s plight.

This advocacy tour follows the success of last year’s European campaign led by Tibetan MPs Geshe Lharampa Atuk Tseten and Yeshi Dolma, who visited the Netherlands. The pair held meetings with various Tibet-related groups, including the Tibet Support Group, Students for a Free Tibet, the International Campaign for Tibet, and local Tibetan associations. They also participated in a celebration marking the 35th anniversary of His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s Nobel Peace Prize award, where they shared insights on His Holiness’s contributions to peace and justice.

The upcoming tour will kick off in Copenhagen on January 22, with a series of engagements planned in Denmark over three days. From January 26 to 28, the delegation will move to Stockholm, Sweden, to participate in advocacy events before concluding their trip in Oslo, Norway, on January 29. The delegation will depart for Delhi on January 30.

This advocacy effort is a part of the ongoing outreach by the Central Tibetan Administration to galvanize international support and spotlight the continued struggles of Tibetans under Chinese governance.

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On November 22, the US Department of Homeland Security added 29 more Chinese companies to the list of entities banned under the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA), bringing the total to 107. The UFLPA, signed into law by President Joe Biden in December 2021, is designed to block imports of products tied to forced labour practices.

Robert Silvers, a senior official at the Department of Homeland Security, stated, “The enforcement actions show that the US will not accept forced labour in goods entering our markets.”

In response, China’s Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) criticized the move, accusing the US of using Xinjiang’s human rights concerns as a pretext to target Chinese businesses. The ministry reiterated China’s stance against forced labour in any form, denying its existence in Xinjiang and labeling the sanctions as unjust.

However, international organizations and independent reports have presented strong evidence supporting claims of forced labour in the region. In August 2022, United Nations expert Tamoya Obokata concluded there was clear evidence of Uyghurs and other ethnic minorities being forced to work in farming and manufacturing industries in Xinjiang, as noted by the VOA.

Adding to the controversy, an October report by the Center for Advanced Defense Studies (C4ADS), a Washington-based research group, revealed that Uyghur forced labour is also being exploited in China’s pharmaceutical sector. The report highlighted abuses such as land seizures without consent, forced factory labour, and non-consensual medical experiments involving Uyghurs.

The enforcement of UFLPA demonstrates the US’s commitment to addressing human rights abuses and ensuring ethical trade practices, despite ongoing disputes with China over the allegations.

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