United Nations, New York, March 10, 1998 (ICLT): On March 6, 1998, Khando Chazotsang, a Tibetan refugee now living in Salt Lake City, addressed the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW). While over 1000 NGO representatives attended the 42nd session of the CSW, less than ten were allowed to publicly address the commission.
Chazotsang spoke on behalf of the NGO Caucus on Women in Armed Conflict and Foreign Occupation. During the delivery of the statement China strenuous objected, claiming that the speaker was attacking the sovereignty of China and not addressing the issues before the Commission. China was overruled by the Commission's chair (with substantial applause from those present), who stated that the Chazotsang's statement clearly addressed the Commission's agenda, including the Beijing Platform for Action.
Madame Chairperson:
My name is Khando Chazotsang. I had to flee from Tibet and I am now resettled in the USA. I am here to represent the Asian Region Caucus within the NGO Caucus for Women and Armed Conflict.
Situations of foreign occupation and armed and other conflict are often characterized by unequal power relationships. A direct link between political conflict and stepped up suppression of fundamental human rights and freedoms is unfortunately all too common in such situations. The Beijing Platform for Action therefore emphasizes the promotion of non-violent conflict resolution and reaffirms of the right of self-determination of all peoples.
As the case of Tibet demonstrates, long-standing conflicts and the resulting human rights violations do not disappear in the absence of determined international action. While these conflicts, often escalate into further violence, such as international terrorism, the Tibetan people, following the
initial military conflict, have engaged in a campaign of non-violent action
to further their aspirations for fundamental freedoms and human rights. If such a non-violent campaign does not engender tangible international support and a resulting peaceful resolution, the world community will send the clear message to peoples all over the world that only violence will focus world attention on existing conflicts.
Therefore, we the Asian Women Caucus at the CSW, urge the United Nations and states to encourage governments involved in foreign occupation and armed and other conflicts to enter into negotiations for a peaceful resolution. States shall be encouraged to open the conflict territory, without undue restrictions, to state and non-governmental missions as well as to the international media. Pressure on governments shall be applied and resource allocation in conflict situations shall be given evenly, without regard to North/South, political and economic considerations.
We further urge the Un General Assembly to investigate and address contested issues of self-determination. The Un Secretary General shall be requested to use his good offices to appoint special envoys to promote peaceful settlement of conflicts and, as appropriate, to initiate Un-sponsored referenda to ascertain the wishes of peoples seeking self-determination.
I would like to thank the Chairperson and delegates for this opportunity to speak.
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Following the delivery of the statement, China raised a second point of order, claiming that Tibet had always been a part of China and that the Chair should not have allowed the speaker to address this issue. The Chair cut off the Chinese delegate's statement informing her that she was misusing the "point of order" process in order to reply.
The Tibetan delegation to the CSW was organized by the International Committee of Lawyers for Tibet and included Phuntsok Dolma and Youden Aukatsang from Boston, Tenzin Jimpa from the Canada Tibet Committee and Eva Herzer, President of the International Committee of Lawyers for Tibet. The written UN intervention on Women and Armed Conflict which which highlight the situation of Tibetan women can be viewed on ICLT's web site at www.tibeticlt.org. The UN distributed the intervention to all delegates and translated it into Spanish and French.
