The International Campaign for Tibet (ICT) and the Australia Tibet Council (ATC) are pleased to announce the launch of a formal partnership effective October 5, 2012. The decision was taken by the leadership of the two organizations in recognition of Australia’s significant role in the region and the shared ICT/ATC commitment to multilateralism in pressing China to cease its gross and systematic violations of human rights in Tibet.
The ICT/ATC partnership will mean that Tibetan issues have greater resonance with the government and people of Australia and other audiences in the region. The ICT/ATC partnership will continue to work in pursuit of a common mandate to promote democratic freedoms and human rights for Tibetans, in every dimension, including the right to development, according to priorities identified by Tibetans. In this regard, the ICT/ATC partnership will consider how Australia can better understand its immediate and long-term significance to the Chinese government and economy as a country rich in natural resources and an essential market for Chinese goods.
ICT Executive Chairman, Lodi Gyari, who visited Sydney and Canberra, Australia in August 2011, said: “The influence and excellent work of the Australia Tibet Council is evident in its outreach to the Australian government, and we see great value in extending ATC’s reach beyond the borders of Australia by drawing on the experience of ICT’s government advocacy work in the United States and the European Union.”
ATC Executive Officer, Paul Bourke, said: “ATC believes that its partnership with ICT will direct support among the Australian people into effective action for real change on the ground in Tibet. ICT has a strong international record of achievement in its monitoring, advocacy and media work, and ATC is excited to partner with them, extending this work into the Asia Pacific region.”