World Summit for Social Development Copenhagen, 1995

Tibetan Women Gain Support to Get to Beijing Conference (ICT)

From: International Campaign for Tibet

Copenhagen, March 9, ICT - Tibetan women attending the UN Social Summit in Copenhagen have received an outpouring of support from international NGOs in their bid to get to Beijing in September of this year to attend the next UN conference.

The Tibetans, representing the Tibetan Women's Association (TWA), came to Copenhagen to lobby for what everyone expects to be a difficult goal: securing accreditation and visas in a conference dominated by Chinese influence. Dozens of international NGOs as well as government representatives have vowed to take up the issue if Tibetan women face problems, according to Chungdak Koren, who represents both the TWA and the Norwegian Tibet Committee.

Tsering Tsomo, Vice President of the TWA, met with Karen Jespersen, head of the official Danish delegation to the UN Beijing conference, to brief the Danish delegation about issues facing Tibetan women, and specifically to discuss access to the Beijing conference. Ms. Jespersen, who is also the Minister for Social Affairs of the Danish government, was aware of potential problems for Tibetan delegates, and said she will continue monitor this issue.

Mrs. Jytte Lindgrd the President of the National Council of Women, Denmark, the largest Danish women's organization, offered her full support to the Tibetan women and will raise the issue at the New York preparatory committee meeting. These meetings were arranged by the Danish Tibet Support Committee.

Ironically, China announced a 21% increase in its military budget on the opening day of the Social Summit, where countries are gathering to commit more funds to social programs. The announcement was sharply criticized by the Tibetan women's delegation, who say that the increase may lead to more human rights abuses and an even greater Chinese military presence in Tibet, rather than improvements in health and education. An opinion piece in an independent Social Summit newspaper said China as "buried the myth that a large population translates into national strength." China's decision to increase its military budget in this day and age "is a sign of insecurity rather than strength," the piece said.

Poor educational opportunities for women in Tibet was highlighted at a seminar held today by the Tibetan Women's Association, which was covered by Danish television. "The quality of schools in Tibet and the availability of Tibetan language textbooks remains abysmal after more than 40 years of Chinese rule," Tsering Tsomo said at the seminar, held on International Women's Day. All the Tibet seminars so far have been attended by Chinese delegates, many of whom are here to learn about UN conferences as they prepare for their own in September. Chinese delegates have shown great interest in Tibet by collecting Tibetan materials, photographing the Tibet booth, and inquiring about details of the March 10 demonstration.

The Social Summit is considered to be an important stepping stone for the Beijing conference, and thousands of women are here to prepare for it. Many will go from here to the final New York Preparatory Committee meeting which starts on March 13. Tsering Tsomo and Chungdak will be among them.