Not in Our Name: Cultural Genocide in Tibet
Gepubliceerd op: 15 April 2025
Campaign against cultural genocide in Tibet through boarding schools, suppression of the Tibetan language, culture and religion, and forced assimilation.
Geschreven door Tibet Support Group Netherlands
The Systematic Erasure of Tibetan Identity
The Chinese government is carrying out a systematic campaign to eradicate Tibetan cultural identity through a range of coordinated policy measures:
Boarding School System
More than 1 million Tibetan children—nearly 80% of students aged 6–18—have been separated from their families and communities and placed in colonial-style boarding schools. In these schools:
- Children are taught almost exclusively in Chinese, not Tibetan
- Traditional Tibetan history and culture are replaced with Chinese Communist Party propaganda
- Children are cut off from their families, traditions, and religious practices
Suppression of the Tibetan Language
- Tibetan language education is severely restricted or eliminated in schools
- Government services are increasingly available only in Chinese
- Tibetans face discrimination and limited opportunities if they are not fluent in Chinese
Religious Persecution
- Monasteries are under strict surveillance and control
- Religious education for children is prohibited
- Tibetan Buddhist practices are heavily restricted
- The Chinese government claims the right to control reincarnation, including that of the Dalai Lama
Forced Cultural Assimilation
- Traditional nomadic lifestyles are being eliminated through forced resettlement
- Tibetan cultural expressions are tightly controlled and often criminalized
- Displaying images of the Dalai Lama or the Tibetan flag can result in imprisonment
Why This Is Crucial
This systematic erasure of Tibetan identity constitutes cultural genocide under international law. Without immediate intervention, the rich and unique Tibetan culture—with its language, religious traditions, and way of life developed over thousands of years—is at risk of disappearing within a single generation.
Our Campaign Goals
- Raise international awareness about the cultural genocide in Tibet
- Pressure governments to take diplomatic action against China’s policies
- Support Tibetan-led initiatives to preserve their language and culture
- Advocate for the rights of Tibetan children to receive education in their own language and cultural context
How You Can Help
Join our campaign to stop the cultural genocide in Tibet. Together, we can make a difference.