Department of Information and International Relations’ head of Tibet Advocacy Section, Deputy Secretary Dukthen Kyi, presented CTA’s Voluntary Tibet Advocacy Group (V-TAG) initiative to the Tibetans gathered at the Karma Sonam Gyamtso Ling Buddhist centre based in Schoten in Antwerp, Belgium, on 16 July 2022.

The session was held after the program on Buddhist debate, which was presided by Venerable Zeegyab Rinpoche, to whom Dukthen Kyi is currently accompanying to coordinate the Panchen Lama advocacy in Belgium and London.

The meeting was attended by a group of mostly elder Tibetans with some youths living in the area, during which they were briefly explained about the V-TAG initiatives and the progress so far. A brief question and answer session followed the elucidation where questioners sought clarity on the process of registering for V-TAG, the expectations after becoming a V-TAG member, and the equal participation by elder Tibetans along with Tibetan youth. The Tibetans also gained answers on the working of the Tibet Advocacy Section’s regional coordinator staff with new registrations and their engagement with future V-TAG registrants in their respective jurisdictions. Dukthen Kyi explained that the main goal of V-TAG is to strengthen advocacy for Tibet internationally, providing an opportunity for Tibetans around the world to contribute through any means or skills and any amount of time they could offer. She also stressed that the most important and initial stage is to successfully register for V-TAG and then actively engage in the meetings and advocacy work.

Secretary Thinlay Wangdue of the Office of Tibet, Brussels, who was accompanying Dukthen Kyi, made the introductory remarks. This is the second in-person meeting in Belgium on V-TAG. Following the launch of V-TAG last year in November in Geneva, Switzerland, a meeting with a group of energetic and determined youth in Antwerp was held, organised by the Office of Tibet, Brussels.