Empowering Tibetan Youth: A Global Push for Advocacy

A three-day Tibetan Youth Empowerment Programme in South Tyrol focused on challenging China's policies in Tibet. Approximately 25 young Tibetans from eight countries received training in political, legal, and advocacy spheres. The event highlighted the CTA's commitment to empowering the next generation and advocating for Tibetan autonomy and rights.

In a significant move to bolster international advocacy for Tibet, the Tibetan Youth Empowerment Programme took place over three days at the Eurac Research Centre, South Tyrol, from January 16 to 18. The event, organized by the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) alongside the Tibet Bureau Geneva and DIIR, brought together around 25 young Tibetans from eight countries for intensive training in political and advocacy skills, aiming to strengthen the Tibetan freedom movement.

The programme's inaugural session featured Professor Roland Psenner, President of the Eurac Research Centre, who drew strong comparisons between South Tyrol's past under fascist rule and current conditions in Tibet under Chinese administration. He highlighted historical efforts to suppress South Tyrol's language and culture, drawing parallels with China's policies in Tibet. Eurac's support for the Tibetan cause was reaffirmed, marking a long-term commitment.

Adding to the session, Thinlay Chukki, the Dalai Lama's representative at the Tibet Bureau Geneva, underscored youth empowerment as a key CTA priority. Describing the programme as a generational 'passing of the baton,' she expressed concern over reports of more than a million Tibetan children being sent to Chinese-run boarding schools, which critics argue erode Tibetan cultural identity.

In discussions about autonomy, experts Sergei Constantin and Marc Roggla showcased South Tyrol's autonomy as a model that counters China's claims about national sovereignty threats. The programme concluded with a session featuring Arno Kompatscher, President of South Tyrol, who expressed solidarity with the Tibetan cause while reflecting on South Tyrol's pursuit of self-governance.