Under Secretary Zeya’s Remarks at the State Department 2024 Losar Reception

As delivered

Good afternoon and tashi delek. It’s a pleasure to welcome you all to the State Department for our 2024 Losar celebration.

We are privileged to be joined today by such distinguished guests, including our Congressional and civil society partners; Ambassadors and diplomatic colleagues; representatives of the local Tibetan community; and dear friends and partners from the State Department and throughout U.S. government agencies, including the White House and USAID. Welcome all.

I would also like to thank the International Campaign for Tibet and Capital Area Tibetan Association for their contributions to today’s event, including the beautiful Losar altar and decorations around the room.

This past Saturday marked the beginning of Losar, the end of the year of the Water Hare and the start of the year of the Wood Dragon. During this celebratory season, Tibetans across the Himalayas and the world set up altars; hang prayer flags; and don new clothes. They take time to visit family, make offerings, and—of course—eat delicious foods. So, it is only fitting that we, members of the global community, take time to celebrate with each other, partake in Tibet’s rich traditions, and, very soon, eat some delicious momos.

But first, let us take a moment to reflect on this past year. As I look out into the audience today, I see faces from across the globe. Together, we make up a community of advocates and policymakers dedicated to supporting and preserving Tibet’s distinct cultural, linguistic, and religious heritage.

Perhaps no event better exemplifies the strength, coordination, and solidarity of this community than the recent Universal Periodic Review at the United Nations Human Rights Council. Just a few weeks ago, the global community met to review and offer recommendations on the People’s Republic of China’s human rights record. During this session, more than 20 countries raised concerns regarding the PRC’s policies in Tibet, culminating in 24 specific recommendations regarding government-run boarding schools, arbitrary detention, and co-optation of Tibetan Buddhism, among many other concerns. Compared to the previous review in 2018, this session marked a two-fold increase in the number of recommendations concerning Tibet—a clear sign of the seriousness with which the international community collectively regards the PRC’s ongoing human rights abuses in Tibet.

We saw similar collective resolve last November, when representatives of over 30 countries and dozens of civil society organizations gathered for the International Religious Freedom or Belief Alliance Ministerial Conference, organized by our Czech partners. Among many events, I was honored to speak alongside my Czech and Dutch colleagues to voice our concerns regarding the PRC’s co-optation of Tibetan Buddhism, including its draconian system of repressive “Sinicization” policies. Through this conference and other ongoing engagements, we have deepened ties and reaffirmed our global solidarity to support Tibetans’ right to freely practice their religion.

And finally last August, the United States was proud to partner with Estonia, Switzerland, the Czech Republic, and the United Kingdom, as well as many civil society organizations, including the International Campaign for Tibet, at the World Water Week conference in Stockholm, Sweden. This event raised awareness of the PRC’s unsustainable environmental practices on the Tibetan plateau and displacement of Tibetan nomads. It brought Tibetan voices to the forefront of the conversation on water management and highlighted the urgent need to further cooperation and data sharing to ensure safe and ongoing access to freshwater for 1.2 billion people across South and Southeast Asia.

Together, these events show the collective dedication of the international community to continue raising our deep concerns over the PRC’s ongoing human rights abuses and violations and supporting Tibetans’ exercise of their fundamental freedoms. As His Holiness the Dalai Lama says, “no matter what is happening, no matter what is going on around you, never give up.”

This message is particularly resonant today as we enter the year of the Wood Dragon. According to Tibetan custom, the Wood Dragon symbolizes strength, energy, and fortitude—and I can think of no better words than these to describe our global partnership among governments, advocacy organizations, and supporters near and far.

So, as we gather at the dawn of this new year, let us look forward to the future with hope. In the audience today, I see both familiar faces and many new ones, including young members of our vibrant Tibetan-American diaspora. Seeing the young people here today reminds me of the purpose of this work—ensuring Tibet’s rich linguistic, religious, and cultural heritage can be passed down to the next generation and celebrated for years to come. Later in our program, we will hear from some of our young Tibetan friends, sharing their passion for music and teaching us all more about the beautiful altar and traditions of Losar.

With that, I am honored to introduce my dear friend and colleague, Deputy Secretary for Management and Resources Rich Verma, to share his well wishes. Happy New Year to all and Losar Tashi Delek.