The International Campaign for Tibet (ICT) has expressed appreciation for the statement by eight United Nations special mandate holders, criticizing China’s implementation of the “Ethnic Unity and Progress Law.” The experts highlighted the potential risks of this law in enforcing a uniform approach to ethnic relations across China, which could lead to increased restrictions on minority rights. The law, set to take effect on July 1, may have significant implications for the linguistic, cultural, and religious autonomy of ethnic communities like Tibetans, Uyghurs, and Mongols.
The Special Rapporteurs also raised concerns about the law’s impact on language education, noting that it could reinforce a linguistic hierarchy by subordinating Tibetan to Mandarin in public settings. Additionally, they warned that the prohibition on impeding Mandarin learning could be used against those advocating for Tibetan language education. Regarding cultural preservation, the experts pointed out that the law could limit cultural autonomy by centralizing authority over acceptable cultural expression, potentially contradicting existing laws on regional national autonomy.
In terms of freedom of religion, the Special Rapporteurs highlighted potential infringements on religious practices, as the law appears to condition religious activities on state-mandated ideological alignment. This could interfere with religious autonomy and individuals’ rights to practice their beliefs without state coercion. Moreover, the law’s provisions on transnational repression, particularly Article 63, could enable China to target individuals outside its borders for actions deemed to undermine ethnic unity and progress, potentially affecting Tibetan, Uyghur, and Mongolian diaspora members.
ICT President Tencho Gyatso commended the expert findings for exposing the Chinese Communist Party’s intentions to erode Tibet’s cultural, linguistic, and religious heritage. He emphasized the gravity of the rights violations resulting from this law. ICT called on the US, the European Union, and other international partners to incorporate the UN experts’ concerns into discussions with Chinese officials and at multilateral forums.
