Geneva: A Tibetan representative called the UN to assess China’s top-down developmental policies and its impact on the Tibetan plateau at the ongoing 48th session of the UN Human Rights Council.
The UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Development, Mr. Saad Alfaratgi presented his report during the interactive dialogue under item 3. In his report, the Rapporteur examined climate action at national-level from the perspective of the right to development.
Highlighting systematic violations of Tibetans’ fundamental rights under the guise of poverty alleviation and development, UN Advocacy Officer at the Tibet Bureau Geneva Kalden Tsomo raised concerning cases of relocation of Tibetan nomads and imprisoned environmentalist Karma Samdrup and land rights defender A-nye Sengdra.
Noting China’s efforts within UN system in downplaying the universality of human rights and state-led destruction in the name of development, she said “the fundamental values and credibility of the Council is at stake”, and urged the rapporteur and the council to assess the environmental impact of development in Tibet.
The 48th UN Human Rights Council session commenced on 13 September and will conclude on 08 October 2021.