The European Parliament on Thursday adopted with a large majority a resolution condemning the repressive forced assimilation of Tibetan children in Chinese state-run boarding schools in Tibet. This resolution comes at the helm of a robust debate held late Wednesday by the European lawmakers. The resolution was adopted by 477 votes in favour, 14 against with 45 abstentions.

Although the resolution focuses on the case of forced assimilation of nearly 1 million Tibetan children, it also raises the continuously deteriorating human rights situation in Tibet under Xi Jinping.

The resolution calls on the Chinese government for the immediate abolishment of the boarding school system in Tibet and urges the Council and member states to adopt targeted sanctions against Chinese officials for their involvement in the boarding schools.

The motion for the resolution was proposed by MEP Salima Yenbou from Renew group who was part of the European Parliament delegation visiting Dharamshala in March this year and was supported by other political groups.

Representative Genkhang of the Office of Tibet, Brussels, welcomed the resolution and expressed appreciation to the European Parliament for the timely resolution on the forced assimilation of nearly 1 million Tibetan children in Chinese state-run boarding schools. The resolution shines a spotlight on the continuous and severe violations of the fundamental rights of the Tibetan people, including the right of the child, by the Chinese government.

The full resolution will be available here.