Dharamshala — The Parliamentary Group for Tibet (PGT) in the Swiss Parliament has issued a strong protest against China’s new “Law on Ethnic Unity and Progress". They said, "This new ‘Law on Ethnic Unity and Progress’ is not about unity for the PRC, but about forced assimilation and the systematic eradication of Tibetan identity. For the Tibetan people and all peoples oppressed by the PRC, this is not an abstract political debate, but a struggle for cultural survival."
On behalf of the Parliamentary Group for Tibet, Co-President Councillor of States Tiana Moser, Co-President National Councillor Léonore Porchet, Co-President National Councillor Nik Gugger, Co-President National Councillor Fabian Molina and Vice-President Councillor of States Maya Graf issued a strong protest against China’s new “Law on Ethnic Unity and Progress", which will take implement on July 1, 2026.
They said, "On July 1, 2026, the People’s Republic of China (PRC) will bring a new ‘Law on Ethnic Unity’ into force, thereby enshrining a Han-centred national identity at the expense of the Tibetan language, religion and culture. However, this new ‘Law on Ethnic Unity and Progress’ is not about unity for the PRC, but about forced assimilation and the systematic eradication of Tibetan identity. For the Tibetan people and all peoples oppressed by the PRC, this is not an abstract political debate, but a struggle for cultural survival."
"The Parliamentary Group for Tibet protests against the introduction of this law, which comes into force on 1 July 2026, and which aims to impose even stricter control at the expense of the Tibetan people’s cultural identity, whilst further threatening the culture of all ethnic groups oppressed by the PRC," they added.
Swiss Parliamentary Group stated, "This expanded state control over education, public life and the expression of Tibetan identity represents a dramatic worsening of the situation for the at least one million Tibetan children who have already been separated from their families by the PRC’s colonialist boarding school system."
The Parliamentary Group for Tibet said," It supports all of Switzerland’s efforts, within all relevant bodies and international human rights organisations, to oppose this new law and the warnings from UN experts that the law threatens the linguistic, cultural and religious autonomy of the Tibetans, Uyghurs and all peoples oppressed by the People’s Republic of China."
"Representatives of the Parliamentary Group for Tibet will raise this problematic, human rights-violating action by the People’s Republic of China for discussion in the Foreign Affairs Committee (APK) and will work to ensure that, in its official talks, the Federal Council reminds the People’s Republic of China of its duty to preserve the fundamental rights of the Tibetan people, including their language, religion, culture and identity. For if this policy of the People’s Republic of China is allowed to continue unchecked, there is a risk that Tibetan identity will be wiped out within a single generation," they concluded.
