New Delhi — An India Tibet Friendship Society Women's Conference was held in New Delhi on March 22, 2025. Ambassador Dilip Sinha (retd) addressed the conference and said, “China’s claim of Tibet being a part of China since antiquity is false and misleading, even China does not trust its own historical narrative”.
According to the India Tibet Coordination Office, DIIR, CTA in New Delhi, the India-Tibet Friendship Society Women's Conference was inaugurated on March 22, 2025, to advocate and discuss critical issues related to women's human security, resilience, environment and climate, digital security, artificial intelligence, and identity and expression.
The inaugural session was graced by distinguished dignitaries, including Ambassador Dilip Sinha (Retd.); Jigme Jungney, Representative of the Bureau of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, New Delhi; Dr Yeshi Choedon, from the Centre for International Politics, Organisation and Disarmament (CIPOD), JNU; Ven. Prof Kaveri Gill from the Department of International Relations and Governance Studies, Shiv Nadar University, Uttar Pradesh; and Jyotsna Roy, Convener of the Conference, ITFS.
The two-day conference was organised by the India Tibet Coordination Office (ITCO) and India Tibet Friendship Society (ITFS) in collaboration with knowledge partners – Centre for Youth (C4Y), Centre for Social Research (CSR), and the Institute of Social Development and Disaster Management.
Dr Yeshi Choedon said, "Tibet lost its independence after the Battle of Chamdo (1950) and the Chinese full scale invasion of 1959, which was wrongly addressed by the United Nations General Assembly in 1959 as a mere human rights issue instead of a political and national security concern”. Dr Choedon further highlighted that “China’s infrastructure activities in Tibet now pose serious threats to regional security, climate stability, and water resources.”
Ven. Prof Kaveri Gill declared, “China has no rightful claim or role in the natural border between India and Tibet along the Himalayan belt”. She questioned “Why shouldn’t we extend a hand of friendship to our Tibetan brothers and sisters, especially when India, in the current multi-polar order, stands as the greatest nation with a legacy of historical non-aligned friendships?”
Ambassador Dilip Sinha (Retd.) highlighted that “China’s claim of Tibet being a part of China since antiquity is false and misleading”, stating that “even China does not trust its own historical narrative”. He described the situation as a battle between policies of ignorance and indifference toward Tibet, urging that India must take up the Tibetan cause at the international level. Additionally, he emphasised the significant role of women in advancing the Tibetan cause and reminded that “Tibet, India’s largest neighbour, shares a peaceful 4000 km-long border with India. "
Following the inaugural session, the two-day conference saw four panel sessions, each addressed unique major theme: Women’s Human Security and Resilience, Environment & Climate, Digital Security & Artificial Intelligence, and Identity & Expression. A total of 11 prominent Panellists shared their insights during the discussions.
These Panels were actively participated by more than 150 participants, including 30 delegates from 9 states – Delhi, Orissa, Pondicherry, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Bihar, Maharashtra, and one Union territory. Participants also included the Tibet Policy Institute, the Women Empowerment Desk of the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA), Tibetan Women’s Association (TWA) president and team, Tibet Advocacy Alliance, and students from the Tibetan Youth Hostel in Delhi.
On March 23, 2025, after the fourth panel session, the discussions continued where participants engaged in group discussions and proposed recommendations. ITFS adopted resolutions urging the Government of India and civil society to support the preservation of Tibet heritage, resist Chinese aggression in the Himalayan region, and ensure better access to healthcare and social welfare for Tibetan women and children. It reaffirmed solidarity with the Tibetan freedom struggle, calling on India to recognise the “Tibetan government-in-exile” and advocate for the cause globally. The conference also emphasised the cultural and religious significance of Kailash-Mansarovar, demanding the restoration of unrestricted pilgrimage under the guidance of the Indian government and His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
