{"id":5083,"date":"2026-02-12T05:38:33","date_gmt":"2026-02-12T04:38:33","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/tibetoffice.ch\/genevaforum\/?page_id=5083"},"modified":"2026-02-12T05:56:31","modified_gmt":"2026-02-12T04:56:31","slug":"about-2026","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/tibetoffice.ch\/genevaforum\/about-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"About 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"<section class=\"l-section wpb_row height_small\"><div class=\"l-section-h i-cf\"><div class=\"g-cols vc_row type_default valign_top\"><div class=\"vc_col-sm-12 wpb_column vc_column_container\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">[ultimate_heading]\n<h1 class=\"western\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: 28px;\">SIXTH GENEVA FORUM 9 \u2013 10 FEBRUARY 2026<\/span><\/h1>\n[\/ultimate_heading]<div class=\"w-separator size_medium\"><\/div><div class=\"w-tabs layout_hor style_default switch_click icon_chevron iconpos_right title_atleft\"><div class=\"w-tabs-list hidden items_5\"><div class=\"w-tabs-list-h\"><a class=\"w-tabs-item active\" aria-controls=\"content-1604535554097-12713b77-004f\" href=\"javascript:void(0);\"><span class=\"w-tabs-item-title\">Introduction<\/span><\/a><a class=\"w-tabs-item\" aria-controls=\"content-1770872081728-aa1d58f7-f24b\" href=\"javascript:void(0);\"><span class=\"w-tabs-item-title\">Central Theme<\/span><\/a><a class=\"w-tabs-item\" aria-controls=\"content-1604535820799-33b475bf-f937\" href=\"javascript:void(0);\"><span class=\"w-tabs-item-title\">Thematic Panels<\/span><\/a><a class=\"w-tabs-item\" aria-controls=\"content-1604535824165-4b5e1306-58c4\" href=\"javascript:void(0);\"><span class=\"w-tabs-item-title\">Issues to be Discussed under Each Panel<\/span><\/a><a class=\"w-tabs-item\" aria-controls=\"content-1604535912299-0d010a54-c7fe\" href=\"javascript:void(0);\"><span class=\"w-tabs-item-title\">Expected Outcomes<\/span><\/a><\/div><\/div><div class=\"w-tabs-sections\"><div class=\"w-tabs-sections-h\"><div class=\"w-tabs-section active\" id=\"1604535554097-12713b77-004f\"><button class=\"w-tabs-section-header active\" aria-controls=\"content-1604535554097-12713b77-004f\"><div class=\"w-tabs-section-header-h\"><div class=\"w-tabs-section-title\">Introduction<\/div><div class=\"w-tabs-section-control\"><\/div><\/div><\/button><div class=\"w-tabs-section-content\" id=\"content-1604535554097-12713b77-004f\" aria-expanded=\"true\"><div class=\"w-tabs-section-content-h i-cf\"><div class=\"wpb_text_column\" ><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-4567 size-medium\" src=\"http:\/\/tibetoffice.ch\/genevaforum\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/cta_logo_red-300x291.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"291\" srcset=\"https:\/\/tibetoffice.ch\/genevaforum\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/cta_logo_red-300x291.jpg 300w, https:\/\/tibetoffice.ch\/genevaforum\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/cta_logo_red.jpg 640w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><b>SIXTH GENEVA FORUM 9 \u2013 10 FEBRUARY 2026 <\/b><\/p>\n<table class=\"t1\" style=\"border-style: none;\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td class=\"td1\" style=\"width: 167.953px;\" valign=\"top\">\n<p class=\"p2\"><b>Theme<\/b><\/p>\n<p class=\"p2\"><b>\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td class=\"td2\" style=\"width: 857.188px;\" valign=\"top\">\n<p class=\"p2\">Repression and Resilience: Human Rights in Tibet and Regions under China<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td class=\"td3\" style=\"width: 167.953px;\" valign=\"top\">\n<p class=\"p3\"><b>Participants<\/b><\/p>\n<p class=\"p2\"><b>\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td class=\"td4\" style=\"width: 857.188px;\" valign=\"top\">\n<p class=\"p2\">UN Special Procedures mandate Holders; Human rights researchers and advocates; victims and defenders, diplomats and civil societies, scholars and policy makers<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td class=\"td5\" style=\"width: 167.953px;\" valign=\"top\">\n<p class=\"p2\"><b>Date &amp; location<\/b><\/p>\n<p class=\"p2\"><b>\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td class=\"td6\" style=\"width: 857.188px;\" valign=\"top\">\n<p class=\"p5\"><span class=\"s2\">9 \u2013 10 February 2026 CICG, Rue de Varemb\u00e9 17, 1202 Gen\u00e8ve <\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td class=\"td1\" style=\"width: 167.953px;\" valign=\"top\">\n<p class=\"p2\"><b>Organizer<\/b><\/p>\n<p class=\"p2\">\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td class=\"td2\" style=\"width: 857.188px;\" valign=\"top\">\n<p class=\"p2\">The Tibet Bureau, Geneva<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td class=\"td5\" style=\"width: 167.953px;\" valign=\"top\">\n<p class=\"p2\"><b>Contact information<\/b><\/p>\n<p class=\"p2\"><b>\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td class=\"td6\" style=\"width: 857.188px;\" valign=\"top\">\n<p class=\"p2\">Ph: +41 227387940 | Email: info@tibetoffice.ch or genevaforum@tibetoffice.ch<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p class=\"p2\"><b>\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n<p class=\"p7\"><b>Introduction:\u00a0\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n<p class=\"p8\">The human rights situation in regions under the People\u2019s Republic of China (PRC) has been the subject of sustained concern by United Nations Special Procedures, treaty bodies, and other international human rights mechanisms. Over time, these concerns have intensified, particularly in relation to restrictions on civil, political, cultural, religious, economic, and social rights. Recent developments indicate a narrowing of civic space, increased securitization, and the growing use of legal, administrative, and technological measures that affect fundamental freedoms of Tibetans, Uyghurs, and other Turkic Muslims, Mongolians, Hong Kongers, and others in regions under China.<\/p>\n<p>At the same time, PRC has taken a more assertive role in challenging established international human rights norms and accountability mechanisms, including within the United Nations system. In this context, there is an urgent need for platforms that facilitate constructive, evidence-based dialogue grounded in international human rights law, while amplifying the findings of UN mechanisms and the lived experiences of affected communities.<\/p>\n<p>The Geneva Forum was conceived in the context of China\u2019s third cycle of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR), with the first edition held on 2 November 2018. Following strong engagement and positive feedback, the Forum expanded into a two-day format to allow for more comprehensive examination of thematic human rights concerns.<\/p>\n<p>Since 2018, successive editions of the Geneva Forum have contributed to evidence-based analysis of human rights conditions in Tibet and other regions under Chinese administration, drawing on documentation by UN mandate holders, treaty bodies, independent experts, academics, and civil society organizations.<\/p>\n<p>The Forum has evolved into a unique platform bringing together human rights experts, defenders, academics, diplomats, governments, think tanks, civil society actors, and representatives of affected communities. It enables collective assessment of human rights conditions of Tibetans, Uyghurs, Hong Kongers, democracy advocates and human rights defenders in regions under China, while fostering dialogue on international cooperation, accountability, and protection.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"w-tabs-section\" id=\"1770872081728-aa1d58f7-f24b\"><button class=\"w-tabs-section-header\" aria-controls=\"content-1770872081728-aa1d58f7-f24b\"><div class=\"w-tabs-section-header-h\"><div class=\"w-tabs-section-title\">Central Theme<\/div><div class=\"w-tabs-section-control\"><\/div><\/div><\/button><div class=\"w-tabs-section-content\" id=\"content-1770872081728-aa1d58f7-f24b\" aria-expanded=\"false\"><div class=\"w-tabs-section-content-h i-cf\"><div class=\"wpb_text_column\" ><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><p>The Sixth Geneva Forum 2026 will deliberate on the theme titled \u201cRepression and Resilience: Human Rights in Tibet and Regions under China.\u201d The Forum will provide an evidence based deliberative platform to examine patterns of human rights restrictions alongside the resilience of individuals and communities who seek to preserve their cultural, religious, linguistic, and social identities through peaceful and rights-based means.<\/p>\n<p>Human rights concern in regions under PRC\u2019s governance has been raised repeatedly by UN Special Rapporteurs, Working Groups, treaty bodies, and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. Tibet has been assessed by several international indices as among the least free regions globally. Reports have raised concerns regarding large-scale placement of Tibetan children in state-run residential boarding schools, with implications for cultural rights, linguistic rights, and family life. Allegations of mass detention forced labour, and coercive labour transfer programmes in Tibet and of Uyghurs and other Turkic Muslims continue to attract scrutiny under international human rights and labour standards.<\/p>\n<p>Against this backdrop, the Forum will examine both structural patterns of rights restrictions and community-level resilience, situating discussions within the framework of international human rights treaties to which China is a party, as well as standards articulated through Special Procedures. Following China\u2019s fourth Universal Periodic Review (UPR) cycle (January\u2013February 2024), the Forum will also review key recommendations, assess implementation challenges, and explore avenues for constructive international engagement and accountability.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"w-tabs-section\" id=\"1604535820799-33b475bf-f937\"><button class=\"w-tabs-section-header\" aria-controls=\"content-1604535820799-33b475bf-f937\"><div class=\"w-tabs-section-header-h\"><div class=\"w-tabs-section-title\">Thematic Panels<\/div><div class=\"w-tabs-section-control\"><\/div><\/div><\/button><div class=\"w-tabs-section-content\" id=\"content-1604535820799-33b475bf-f937\" aria-expanded=\"false\"><div class=\"w-tabs-section-content-h i-cf\"><div class=\"wpb_text_column\" ><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><p><strong>Thematic Panels:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Uncovering Violations: Human Rights Review of Regions under China<\/li>\n<li>Examining State Narratives: Development and Dispossession<\/li>\n<li>Breaking the Silence: Surveillance, Censorship, and Transnational Repression<\/li>\n<li>What Next? Advancing International Accountability and Multilateral Responses<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><strong>Special Panels:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>The Roof of the World at Risk: Environmental Exploitation and Displacement in Tibet<\/li>\n<li>Sacred Choice, Legal Right: Building Global Understanding of \u201cReincarnation\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"w-tabs-section\" id=\"1604535824165-4b5e1306-58c4\"><button class=\"w-tabs-section-header\" aria-controls=\"content-1604535824165-4b5e1306-58c4\"><div class=\"w-tabs-section-header-h\"><div class=\"w-tabs-section-title\">Issues to be Discussed under Each Panel<\/div><div class=\"w-tabs-section-control\"><\/div><\/div><\/button><div class=\"w-tabs-section-content\" id=\"content-1604535824165-4b5e1306-58c4\" aria-expanded=\"false\"><div class=\"w-tabs-section-content-h i-cf\"><div class=\"wpb_text_column\" ><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><p><strong>Thematic Panels<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Panel I: \u201cUncovering Violations: Human Rights Review of Regions under China\u201d<\/strong> will examine the overall human rights situation of Tibetans, Uyghurs and other Turkic Muslims, Hong Kongers including democracy advocates and human rights defenders in regions under China. Experts will assess ongoing rights concerns, sharing documented patterns of repression targeting cultural, religious, and political freedoms. Personal and community stories of resilience will be highlighted to illustrate lived experiences. Together, the discussion will offer a comprehensive understanding of human rights conditions under Chinese governance.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Panel II: \u201cExamining State Narratives: Development and Dispossession,\u201d<\/strong> examines how state-led development, shaped by colonial and internal-colonial logics, legitimises land dispossession, displacement, and socio-environmental transformation. It critically interrogates narratives of \u201cdevelopment\u201d and \u201cprogress\u201d as tools of governance that obscure unequal power relations and material harms.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Panel III: \u201cBreaking the Silence: Surveillance, Censorship, and Transnational Repression\u201d<\/strong> will discuss the impact of state surveillance, information control, and censorship on individuals and communities within and beyond China. The session will address digital monitoring systems, restrictions on free expression, and mechanisms of suppressing dissent. Transnational repression\u2014 ranging from intimidation to coercion\u2014will also be examined. The panel will emphasize the need for international awareness and protective measures for those targeted.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Panel IV: \u201cWhat Next? Advancing International Accountability and Multilateral Responses\u201d<\/strong> will explore how international institutions, UN Mechanisms, states, and civil society actors can respond more effectively to human rights abuses. Discussions will include legal mechanisms, targeted sanctions, diplomatic engagement, and multilateral strategies. Panelists will examine challenges to building coordinated international responses amid geopolitical constraints. The session will highlight the importance of sustained global advocacy in promoting accountability and protecting affected communities.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Special Panels<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The first special session <strong>\u201cThe Roof of the World at Risk: Environmental Exploitation and Displacement in Tibet\u201d<\/strong> examines the environmental consequences of large-scale development, resource extraction, and infrastructure projects on the Tibetan Plateau. The panel analyses how state-led environmental governance and extractive practices contribute to ecological degradation and the displacement of Tibetan communities, reshaping livelihoods, land use, and human\u2013environment relations.<\/p>\n<p>This second special panel on <strong>\u201cSacred Choice, Legal Right: Building Global Understanding of \u2018Reincarnation\u201d<\/strong> will explore reincarnation as both a spiritual tradition and a matter of individual freedom protected under international human rights law. It will examine how reincarnation-related practices intersect with religious freedom, cultural rights, and self-determination. The session will address cases of political interference and highlight relevant UN mechanisms and treaty frameworks.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"w-tabs-section\" id=\"1604535912299-0d010a54-c7fe\"><button class=\"w-tabs-section-header\" aria-controls=\"content-1604535912299-0d010a54-c7fe\"><div class=\"w-tabs-section-header-h\"><div class=\"w-tabs-section-title\">Expected Outcomes<\/div><div class=\"w-tabs-section-control\"><\/div><\/div><\/button><div class=\"w-tabs-section-content\" id=\"content-1604535912299-0d010a54-c7fe\" aria-expanded=\"false\"><div class=\"w-tabs-section-content-h i-cf\"><div class=\"wpb_text_column\" ><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><p>The Geneva Forum aims to strengthen cooperation among organizations and experts engaging with UN Special Procedures, treaty bodies, and the Universal Periodic Review on issues related to human rights and freedom of religion or belief in China. It seeks to support evidence-based advocacy, enhance follow-up to UN recommendations, and contribute to informed international dialogue and media coverage on human rights conditions in regions under Chinese governance.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"[ultimate_heading] SIXTH GENEVA FORUM 9 \u2013 10 FEBRUARY 2026 [\/ultimate_heading]IntroductionCentral ThemeThematic PanelsIssues to be Discussed under Each PanelExpected OutcomesIntroduction SIXTH GENEVA FORUM 9 \u2013 10 FEBRUARY 2026 Theme \u00a0 Repression and Resilience: Human Rights in Tibet and Regions under China Participants \u00a0 UN Special Procedures mandate Holders; Human rights researchers and advocates; victims and defenders,...","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-5083","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/tibetoffice.ch\/genevaforum\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/5083","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/tibetoffice.ch\/genevaforum\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/tibetoffice.ch\/genevaforum\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tibetoffice.ch\/genevaforum\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tibetoffice.ch\/genevaforum\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5083"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/tibetoffice.ch\/genevaforum\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/5083\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5092,"href":"https:\/\/tibetoffice.ch\/genevaforum\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/5083\/revisions\/5092"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/tibetoffice.ch\/genevaforum\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5083"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}