(TibetanReview.net, Jan19’24) – The US Secretary of State has on Jan 18 awarded the Department’s International Religious Freedom Award to eight individuals from different countries in recognition of their courage and commitment to promoting and defending religious freedom globally. One of them is Canadian-Tibetan Lhadon Tethong, Co-Founder and Director of the Tibet Action Institute.
While Tethong is mentioned as the winner for her activism especially on the situation in the People’s Republic of China-Tibet, which is in keeping with the US government policy of recognizing Tibet as a part of the greater-China territory, the other winners are Farid Ahmed (New Zealand), Kola Alapinni (Nigeria), Mirza Dinnayi (Iraq), Peter Jacob (Pakistan), Martha Patricia Molina Montenegro (Nicaragua), Tali Nates (South Africa), and a group of nine Orthodox clergy from Lithuania represented by Gintaras Sungaila.
A media note from the State Department’s Office of the Spokesperson said these advocates had focused on promoting human rights and mutual respect for all in countries including Nigeria, Iraq, Pakistan, New Zealand, South Africa, and Nicaragua, as well as protecting the rights of Orthodox Christians, Tibetan Buddhists, and members of other religious communities around the world.
And in its notes on the 2023 Award Recipients, the State Department’s Office of International Religious Freedom said of the Tibetan recipient:
“Lhadon Tethong is the Co-Founder and Director of the Tibet Action Institute (TAI). She leads a team of technologists and human rights advocates in developing and advancing open-source communication technologies, nonviolent strategies, and innovative training programs for Tibetans and members of other groups facing repression by the People’s Republic of China (PRC). Tethong and TAI’s work has shed light on how the PRC interferes with the right to freedom of religion or belief of Tibetan Buddhists. Recently, she presented recommendations for the PRC at the Universal Periodic Review 45 Pre-Session on behalf of many Tibetan civil society organizations, including religious freedom specific recommendations. Additionally, TAI has under Tethong’s leadership promoted respect for the human rights and fundamental freedoms of Tibetans and strengthened Tibetan-led civil society groups with shared aims.”