Brussels: On today’s occasion of the 36th birthday of Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, the 11th Panchen Lama of Tibet, members of the European Parliament have reiterated their unwavering support for his release and demanded that the Chinese government immediately disclose his whereabouts.

To mark the sombre anniversary, several MEPs publicly displayed solidarity by holding placards that read: “The 11th Panchen Lama turns 36 on 25 April 2025. But where is he? China is answerable to the world.” The message, both powerful and poignant, echoes the growing international demand for transparency and justice. Additionally, the European Parliamentary Group for Tibet has tabled a written question to the High Representative on the Panchen Lama.

While birthdays are typically a time of joy and celebration with loved ones, the 11th Panchen Lama has been denied this fundamental right. Abducted by Chinese authorities in 1995 at the age of six, just 3 days after being recognised by His Holiness the Dalai Lama, he has not been seen since. His enforced disappearance remains one of the most troubling cases of religious and cultural repression in modern times.

The Panchen Lama’s case is a stark reminder of China’s ongoing suppression of Tibetan identity, religion, and culture. Despite being a member of the United Nations and a signatory to key international treaties, including the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989), China has failed to uphold its obligations. The Convention guarantees every child the right to enjoy civil, political, economic, social, and cultural rights. These rights were stripped from the Panchen Lama, and continue to be denied to countless Tibetan children inside Tibet.

Selected in accordance with ancient Tibetan Buddhist traditions, the 11th Panchen Lama is a vital spiritual figure, and his disappearance represents a grave violation of religious freedom, human rights, and the principles of freedom of thought, conscience, and belief.

Members of the European Parliament join international voices in urging the Chinese government to end this decades-long silence. It is time for China to reveal the truth and allow the world to know the fate of Tibet’s Stolen Child.