International Tibet Network

The International Tibet Network, established in 2000, is a global coalition of Tibet-related non-governmental organisations. Its purpose is to maximise the effectiveness of the worldwide Tibet movement. The Network works to increase the capacity of individual member organisations, develops coordinated strategic campaigns, and encourages increased cooperation among organisations.

International Tibet Network
Founded2000
TypeNon-profit 501(c)(3) charitable corporation
FocusHuman rights in Tibet
Location
  • San Francisco, California Field Office in Dharamshala
Region served
Worldwide
Membership
180 member organizations
Executive Director
Alison Reynolds[1]
Websitetibetnetwork.org

The Network members are committed to non-violence as a fundamental principle of the Tibetan struggle. They regard Tibet as an occupied country and recognise the Tibetan Government in Exile as the sole legitimate government of the Tibetan people. Beyond these principles, the International Tibet Network respects the variety of views and opinions of its member organisations, for example concerning Tibet's future political status, and believes that diversity strengthens the movement.

History

Established in 2000, International Tibet Network has [2] demanded the release of Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, the 14th Dalai Lama's choice for 11th Panchen Lama, calling him "the youngest political prisoner".[3]

In 2004, just hours before organizers of the 2008 Beijing Games were to receive the Olympic flag, at the closing ceremony at 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, six International Tibet Network activists unfurled a black flag with five bullet holes replacing the Olympic rings, and began marching toward the main stadium, before being seized by the police.[4]

In 2008, International Tibet Network demonstrated outside the International Olympic Committee headquarters, demanding the exclusion of Tibetan areas from the 2008 Summer Olympics torch relay, and demanded that the IOC make a statement about the 2008 Tibetan unrest.[5]

Functions

Coordination

The International Tibet Network believes that the global Tibet campaign movement is most effective when its members work together in a coordinated way. To this end, the Network's Secretariat arranges regular Regional Meetings for its member organisations in order for groups to skill-share and engage in detailed strategic planning.

The Network also has two Regional Coordinators, in Asia and in Latin America, who are responsible for building the regional network and assisting Members in finding appropriate regional strategies for implementing global campaigns. They provide support and advice, especially to newly formed groups.

Campaigns

The current priority for the Tibet movement is to "Put Tibetans in Tibet First" and highlight their continued resistance to China's rule. This resistance takes many forms; from self-immolations to mass public protests – such as the Uprisings in 2008, which resulted in a huge increase in the numbers of political prisoners, to more subtle "cultural resistance", which emphasizes and celebrates the Tibetan national identity in music, writings and poetry.

The International Tibet Network develops coordinated campaign strategies in a variety of ways, including forming Campaign Working Groups made up of representatives of member organisations, appointing specially chosen Task Forces or working through Campaign Coordinators.

Capacity Building

The International Tibet Network aims to increase the capacity of the movement by helping its member organisations build their resources and increase the skill-base of their campaigners. The Capacity Building programme includes regular training — often in conjunction with Regional Meetings — and a small grant scheme for members to undertake capacity building or specific campaign projects.

Secretariat

The International Tibet Network Secretariat reports to the Steering Committee. Its role is to implement policy and priorities.

Steering Committee

The International Tibet Network's Steering Committee[6] is responsible for setting policy, ensuring the Network meets its financial and legal commitments and hiring the Executive Director. Steering Committee members are elected from all the regions of the world where there are Tibet Groups (six continents).

The Steering Committee consists of representatives elected by the International Tibet Network's member organisations on a regional basis. The Tibetan Government in Exile appoints a two-person liaison for purposes of assuring dialogue, consultation and co-ordination. The International Tibet Network operates independently of the Tibetan Government in Exile, and its two-person liaison representatives have no voting rights on the Steering Committee. The number of seats on the Steering Committee for each region is set out below. This structure takes into consideration the number of groups, the number of countries with groups and the number of United Nations member states in each region.

See also

References
  1. Gray, Denis D. (May 4, 2008). "Tibet backers have widespread network". San Francisco Chronicle.
  2. Secretariat.
  3. "Freedom plea to Zemin for child Lama". The Telegraph (Kolkata). November 22, 2002.
  4. Liz Robbins (August 30, 2004). "SUMMER 2004 GAMES: NOTEBOOK; South Korean Gymnast Appeals to Top Sports Court". New York Times.
  5. "Keep torch out of Tibet, activists urge IOC". Reuters. Mar 18, 2008.
  6. "members of steering committee".

1. Outcomes of the Sixth International Tibet Support Group Conference

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