European Parliament Strongly Condemns Forced Assimilation of Tibetan Children in Chinese Boarding Schools

In a resounding denouncement, the European Parliament overwhelmingly passed a resolution on Thursday condemning the repressive forced assimilation of nearly 1 million Tibetan children in Chinese state-run boarding schools in Tibet. The resolution, stemming from a robust debate among European lawmakers, received 477 votes in favor, 14 against, and 45 abstentions.

While primarily addressing the plight of Tibetan children, the resolution also sheds light on the deteriorating human rights situation in Tibet under the leadership of Xi Jinping. It explicitly calls for the immediate abolition of the boarding school system in Tibet and urges the Council and member states to impose targeted sanctions on Chinese officials implicated in these institutions.

Proposed by MEP Salima Yenbou from the Renew group, the resolution gained support from various political groups. Representative Genkhang of the Office of Tibet, Brussels, welcomed the resolution, expressing gratitude to the European Parliament for spotlighting the egregious violations of fundamental rights, including the rights of Tibetan children, by the Chinese government.