Strengthening Solidarity for Tibet, Minority and Indigenous Rights at the Stirling Conference

By Tsering Passang

A meaningful and enriching few days at the stunning University of Stirling in Scotland, where I had the privilege of participating in the Challenges and the Future of Minority and Indigenous Rights Protection Conference (March 5 – 7, 2025). Engaging with lawyers, interdisciplinary scholars, activists, community leaders, and human rights advocates from Asia, Africa, the Americas, the UK, and Europe was not only a valuable learning and sharing experience but also an opportunity to build lasting connections and allies for our respective causes.

As a Tibetan participant and speaker representing the Global Alliance for Tibet & Persecuted Minorities (GATPM), I spoke on “Land Rights in Tibet”, addressing the continued illegal occupation of Tibet by the People’s Republic of China (PRC) since 1950. I highlighted how the Chinese government’s land grabs, forced displacement of Tibetan nomads, and exploitation of Tibet’s natural resources are carried out without the consent of the Tibetan people – violating fundamental human rights and jeopardising Tibet’s cultural and environmental sustainability.

The conference, co-hosted by the University of Stirling and the Congress of Nations and States (CNS), created a dynamic space where diverse voices were heard and where shared struggles resonated across communities. The CNS Declaration, adopted at the conference, reaffirms the collective commitment of Peoples, Nations, and States to self-determination, cultural preservation, and peaceful conflict resolution. It underscores the urgent need for the implementation and enforcement of international law to protect Indigenous and persecuted communities.

“Gathering in spaces like this is a powerful act of resistance. It strengthens our collective voice and reminds us that while our struggles may be different, our fight for justice, dignity, and self-determination unites us all.”

Grateful to the University of Stirling and CNS for hosting such an impactful event – one that will leave a lasting impression and fuel our collective efforts to safeguard the rights of Tibetans and Indigenous Peoples worldwide.

#Tibet #LandRights #MinorityRights #IndigenousRights #SelfDetermination #HumanRights #CNS #CongressOfNationsAndStates #UniversityOfStirling #Scotland

Congress of Nations and States 

Challenges and The Future of Minority and Indigenous Rights Protection Conference March 5 – 7, 2025 

DECLARATION 

TAKING NOTE that the Congress of Nations and States co-hosted a conference with the  University of Stirling titled “Challenges and The Future of Minority and Indigenous Rights  Protection” from March 5 – 7, 2025 in Stirling, Scotland; 

RECALLING the challenges and inter-generational trauma Peoples face as a result of genocide,  crimes against humanity, forced displacement, forced evictions, ecocide and other forms of  environmental destruction, and the destruction of tangible and intangible cultural heritage, and  destruction of their ancestral lands; 

NOTING that the discussions in the conference highlighted the ability of law to resolve issues,  but the lack of implementation, lack of enforcement, and lack of political will have frustrated  potential remedies for Peoples around the world, on local, national, regional, and international  levels; 

AFFIRMING Peoples right to self-determination found in the UN Declaration on Granting  Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, UN International Covenant on Civil and  Political Rights, UN International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, and the UN  Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples; 

AFFIRMING that states are obligated to prevent and punish the crime of genocide under The  Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, customary  international law, and the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court; 

HEREBY DECLARE that as Peoples, Nations, and States: 

• We will continue to foster connections and community with each other in order to share  lived experiences and learn from each other;
• We will continue to gather in forums dedicated to both academic and non-academic  audiences in order to raise awareness, promote scholarship and interest in the  challenges facing our communities; 
• We will continue to promote awareness of our tangible and non-tangible cultural  heritage where possible and ensure that we support the inclusion of local Peoples in  places where we hold our meetings; 
• We will continue to support the tangible and non-tangible cultural heritage of the local  communities where we hold our meetings; 
• We urge all Peoples, Nations, and States to work seriously towards resolving conflicts  and disagreements peacefully through dialogue, cooperation, and other peaceful means.