NEWSLETTERS
Tibet Update – July 2026
INSIDE:
Video highlights from celebration of Dalai Lama’s birthday in DC
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In this video, hear highlights from remarks made by US Special Coordinator for Tibetan Issues Riley Barnes, Representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to North America Dr. Namgyal Choedup, ICT President Tencho Gyatso and ICT Executive Director Ryan Fioresi at the Washington, DC-based Office of Tibet’s celebration honoring His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s 91st Birthday.
Dalai Lama reaffirms commitment to serve humanity amid worldwide 91st birthday celebrations
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Tibetans and supporters around the world marked the 91st birthday of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama on July 6 with celebrations spanning India, North America, Europe and beyond, as global leaders honored the Tibetan spiritual leader, whose lifelong message of compassion, nonviolence and universal responsibility continues to inspire people around the world.
At the main birthday celebrations, which took place in Leh, Ladakh in India, His Holiness reaffirmed his aspiration to continue serving humanity for decades to come, as he presided over a large public gathering of around 25,000 devotees.
Tibetan activist Lobsang Palden, widely known as Lobga Rangzen, died after self-immolating outside the United Nations Headquarters in New York on Thursday, July 2 evening, a day after China’s new so-called Ethnic Unity and Progress Law entered into force. This is the first self-immolation by a Tibetan on US soil and marks over 170 known self-immolations by Tibetans, both inside Tibet and China, and in exile.
ICT joins Tibetans in protests urging global action against China’s new ethnic unity law
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On July 1, 2026, the International Campaign for Tibet offices in Washington, DC, and Brussels joined Tibetan communities in demonstrations against China’s so-called Ethnic Unity and Progress Law (EUPL), which came into effect on Wednesday. ICT President Tencho Gyatso described the law as a dangerous escalation in China’s campaign of forced assimilation and a tool of identity erasure.
Famed Larung Gar Buddhist academy in eastern Tibet faces new round of demolitions
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A new round of demolitions that will impact at least 1060 residences of monks and nuns has begun at Serthar Larung Five Sciences Buddhist Academy, popularly known as Larung Gar, in eastern Tibet in Serthar, Kardze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, in Sichuan province, a source with knowledge of the matter told ICT.
ICT election observation mission report validates free and fair Tibetan elections
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In partnership with the Asian Network for Free Elections, the International Campaign for Tibet conducted an election observation mission during the second round of the 2026 Central Tibetan Administration elections. From April 21-30, 2026, ICT and ANFREL staff joined seven international expert election monitors in India as they observed election processes and interviewed local stakeholders.
Tibetan American students put leadership into action through ICT’s Tibetan Youth Leadership Program
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Fourteen Tibetan American students put their newly acquired advocacy and leadership skills into practice as they met with congressional offices on Capitol Hill to advocate for the Assuring the Future of Tibet Act (H.R. 8982) during the International Campaign for Tibet’s 2026 Tibetan Youth Leadership Program, held July 11–18 in Washington, DC.
The US Special Coordinator for Tibetan Issues, Riley Barnes, honored His Holiness the Dalai Lama with a personal tribute at a celebration marking the Tibetan spiritual leader’s 91st birthday in Washington, DC, on Thursday, July 9. The event was organized by the Office of Tibet in Washington, DC, with support from the International Campaign for Tibet.
Wang Huning, one of the most senior Chinese Communist Party leaders, made a rare visit to Tibet, just weeks after Beijing’s new Ethnic Unity and Progress Law came into effect on July 1, signaling China’s determination to accelerate implementation of the law that provides the legal framework for deeper assimilation, ideological control, and security governance across Tibet.
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- Video highlights from celebration of Dalai Lama’s birthday in DC
- Dalai Lama reaffirms commitment to serve humanity amid worldwide 91st birthday celebrations
- ICT mourns passing of Tibet activist Lobga Rangzen following first Tibetan self-immolation on US soil, calls for action on Tibet
- ICT joins Tibetans in protests urging global action against China’s new ethnic unity law
- Famed Larung Gar Buddhist academy in eastern Tibet faces new round of demolitions
- ICT election observation mission report validates free and fair Tibetan elections
- Tibetan American students put leadership into action through ICT’s Tibetan Youth Leadership Program
- US Special Coordinator for Tibetan Issues honors Dalai Lama with personal tribute at 91st birthday celebration in Washington, DC
- Rare Tibet visit by top CCP official Wang Huning signals push to enforce China’s new ethnic unity law, deepen forced assimilation policies
- Sign up to get texts from ICT!
- Check out ICT’s redesigned online store!
- Smart Giving: A savvy choice to make a big impact during periods of financial unpredictability
SUPPORT TIBET
Check out ICT's redesigned online store!
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ICT is delighted to announce the launch of our redesigned online store! We hope the fresh look and reorganized site provide a pleasant and easy to navigate shopping experience. Featured on the site are artist collaborations like our Heart to Heart Collection in partnership with Patrick McDonnell, and our newest collab with Bhuchung D. Sonam and TibetWrites to bring forward creative works by Tibetan writers from across the community. Bhuchung D. Sonam is a Tibetan poet, translator, and publisher born in Tibet and currently living in exile in India. Through his work, Sonam has significantly contributed to making Tibetan literature more accessible to a global audience while fostering a sense of cultural identity and brotherhood among Tibetans. Check out the items in this new collaboration »
Smart Giving: A savvy choice to make a big impact during periods of financial unpredictability
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From climate change to the survival of democracy, Tibet is at the heart of the biggest challenges facing our world. That's why we're thrilled to share financially smart ways to give that will promote human rights and democratic freedoms for the people of Tibet:
- Stock: When you donate appreciated stock, you can save on two types of taxes by avoiding capital gains tax and often getting a full deduction for the value of your gift.
- IRA gifts: If you're 70.5 or older, donations from your IRA reduce your taxable income and can help meet a Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) if you must take one.
- Donor-Advised Funds: With a grant recommendation from your Donor-Advised Fund, you can give from the money you've already set aside without spending an additional cent!
- Crypto: A donation of appreciated cryptocurrency can help you avoid capital gains taxes and get a big tax deduction.
We hope you consider the donation option(s) best for you, and together, we can shift the balance toward compassion and kindness.
When you give these types of gifts, please use the tools linked above so we can track your gift, send you the right receipt and ensure you get the tax savings you deserve.