Stand for Tibet: European Alps Tour 2026 will reach 32 European countries through a coordinated letter campaign, with in-person advocacy in key European cities
LONDON – 9 September 2026 | GATPM – Two Tibetans living and working in the United Kingdom are launching the Stand for Tibet: European Alps Tour 2026, a peaceful advocacy initiative calling on European governments, European Union institutions and the United Nations to restore sustained international attention to Tibet and support renewed dialogue towards a peaceful political settlement.
Tenzin Dakpa, an independent researcher and Tibetan entrepreneur based in London, and Dawa Tsering, a former Council Member of the Tibetan Community in Britain and Hertfordshire-based entrepreneur, are undertaking the initiative independently and self-funding the costs of their European tour.
The campaign will have an advocacy reach covering 32 countries in Europe – all 27 European Union Member States, together with the United Kingdom, Norway, Iceland, Switzerland and Liechtenstein. The two campaigners will not travel to all 32 countries on this leg of the campaign tour. Instead, the bulk of their outreach will be conducted remotely through a coordinated programme of letters, emails, petition submissions and follow-up communications with governments, parliamentarians and institutions across Europe. They departed London on Wednesday, 9th September and return on 22nd September after their two weeks tour.
With support from the Global Alliance for Tibet & Persecuted Minorities (GATPM), the campaigners will also travel to a select number of key European cities – expected to be at least six countries – to seek meetings with relevant officials and representatives and, where possible, personally hand over letters and petition materials.
A 32-country campaign, with targeted in-person engagement
The central purpose of the campaign is to ensure that Tibet remains part of international political and diplomatic discussion.
Letters will be tailored to individual countries, EU institutions and international bodies, addressing issues relevant to their respective responsibilities. These will be sent by email and followed up directly with offices, officials and representatives throughout the campaign.
Where schedules and access permit, the two campaigners hope to meet relevant representatives and personally deliver their appeals in key locations including Brussels, Strasbourg, Geneva, Luxembourg, Vaduz, Bern and London.
The campaign will seek engagement with the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the European Commission, the President of the European Parliament, national governments and parliamentarians, as well as representatives of the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Geneva and the UN Secretary-General’s office in New York.
The organisers stress that the campaign is intended to complement, rather than replace, established Tibetan advocacy and diplomatic engagement. Its purpose is to create additional opportunities for decision-makers to hear directly from Tibetans and to encourage sustained attention to the unresolved political question of Tibet.
Bringing Tibet back to international forums
The campaign calls for renewed international engagement on Tibet, with particular emphasis on:
- meaningful dialogue towards a peaceful political settlement;
- protection of Tibetan language, culture, religion and identity;
- respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms;
- greater attention to the situation of Tibetan children and the preservation of Tibetan identity;
- stronger awareness of reported transnational pressure affecting Tibetan diaspora communities in Europe;
- greater transparency, data-sharing and international cooperation concerning Himalayan transboundary rivers and disaster risks; and
- keeping Tibet within appropriate international and multilateral discussions, including at the United Nations.
The campaigners also intend to make peaceful public stops at selected major landmarks during their journey, where they will display the Tibetan flag, distribute informational leaflets and speak with members of the public about the purpose of the initiative.
GATPM supports the initiative following Lobga Rangzen’s self-immolation
The Global Alliance for Tibet & Persecuted Minorities is supporting the advocacy initiative and will assist in facilitating meetings, submissions and engagement with European and international institutions.
The initiative follows the self-immolation of Tibetan freedom activist Lobsang Palden, also known as Lobga Rangzen, in front of the United Nations Headquarters in New York. The organisers say the tragic act has reinforced their determination to pursue peaceful advocacy and encourage international institutions to listen to Tibetan concerns.
Tsering Passang, Founder-Chair of the Global Alliance for Tibet & Persecuted Minorities, said:
“We support Tenzin Dakpa and Dawa Tsering in taking this peaceful and constructive initiative at a time when the international community must continue to listen to the Tibetan people. Following the tragic self-immolation of Lobga Rangzen in front of the United Nations in New York, the response mustn’t be silence, but greater engagement, dialogue and international attention.”
“These two individuals are self-funding their journey and taking their message directly to European institutions and decision-makers. GATPM is pleased to support their advocacy work by helping facilitate meetings and submissions wherever possible. We hope governments and international institutions will receive their letters, listen to their concerns and help ensure that Tibet remains on the international agenda.”
Passang added:
“This is a call for dialogue, not confrontation. We believe Europe and the United Nations can play a constructive role in encouraging conditions for meaningful dialogue and a peaceful political settlement. Every opportunity to keep Tibet in international discussion matters.”
A self-funded journey for peaceful engagement
Tenzin Dakpa and Dawa Tsering are undertaking the tour independently and are personally funding the costs associated with their travel.
They describe the journey as both a personal commitment and a peaceful civic initiative by Tibetans who have established their lives in Britain and want to contribute constructively to international discussion about Tibet.
“We are not travelling to every country in Europe. Our approach is focused and practical: we will communicate with governments and institutions across all 32 countries through letters, emails and follow-up, while travelling to a smaller number of key cities to seek meetings and make personal submissions,” said Tenzin Dakpa and Dawa Tsering.
“Our message is simple: Tibet should not disappear from international discussion. We want to engage respectfully with European leaders and international institutions, encourage dialogue and ensure that Tibetans continue to be heard.”
The organisers welcome constructive engagement from governments, parliamentarians, international organisations, civil society, journalists and members of the public.
ABOUT THE CAMPAIGNERS
Tenzin Dakpa is an independent researcher and Tibetan entrepreneur based in London. He runs restaurants and remains actively engaged with the wider Tibetan community.
Dawa Tsering is a former Council Member of the Tibetan Community in Britain. Based in Hertfordshire, he runs his own real estate business.
Both are undertaking the Stand for Tibet: European Alps Tour 2026 independently and at their own expense.
ABOUT GATPM
The Global Alliance for Tibet & Persecuted Minorities (GATPM) is a London-based organisation supporting advocacy and international engagement concerning Tibet and other persecuted minority communities. For this initiative, GATPM is supporting the campaigners’ advocacy work and helping facilitate meetings, submissions, and engagement with European and international institutions.
MEDIA & CAMPAIGN CONTACT
Tsering Passang
Founder-Chair
Global Alliance for Tibet & Persecuted Minorities
+44 7927 376 532
info@gatpm.com
www.StandForTibetEuropeanAlpsTour2026.com
ENDS
Global Alliance for Tibet & Persecuted Minorities (GATPM) 