EN
E-000218/2016
Answer given by High Representative/Vice-President Mogherini
(15.3.2016)
The Human Rights situation in Tibet is raised systematically with the Chinese authorities in the context
of the EU-China Human Rights Dialogue. This was the case in Brussels on 8 December 2014 and in
Beijing on 30 November 2015. More specifically on Tibet, the EU asked about measures intended to
address deep-rooted grievances, including the lack of freedom to practice their own religion and
culture, that have led some Tibetans to resort to self-immolations.
In September 2013, the first visit to China of the EUSR for Human Rights, included a 5-day visit to
Qinghai and the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR). EUSR Lambrinidis met with a number of Officials,
as well as a broad cross-section of Chinese civil society, including Tibetan officials, herdsmen,
farmers, monks, university students. He also met teachers and pupils at a kindergarten. During his
second visit (7-14 November 2015), the EUSR followed up with questions to the Chinese authorities
about recent trends in monasteries and the circumstances of those surviving self-immolations, their
families and communities.
Finally, the EU systematically raises human rights situation in China during the regular sessions of the
UN Human Rights Council, with specific reference to Tibet and Xinjiang.