About CTC

The Canada Tibet Committee (CTC) is an independent non-governmental organization of Tibetans and non-Tibetans living in Canada, concerned with the continuing human rights violations and lack of democratic freedom in Tibet. We seek to end the ongoing destruction of the Tibetan culture, alleviate the suffering of the Tibetan people and restore Tibet to its status as an independent state within the family of nations. The Canada Tibet Committee is committed to the principle of non-violence and recognizes the Tibetan Government-in-Exile as the legitimate representative of the Tibetan people.

The Canada Tibet Committee works to achieve its goals by:

• Compiling and distributing information about Tibet;
• Advocating on behalf of the Tibetan people through outreach campaigns to government, non-governmental organizations, the public and the media;
• Hosting seminars and speaking tours, organizing cultural events and publishing reports;
• Building the CTC into a cross-Canada network.

Beginnings

The Canada Tibet Committee was founded in 1987 in response to growing unrest inside occupied-Tibet. Our goal is to create a structure where concerned Canadians can work together with their Tibetan friends to develop increased awareness in Canada.

Fourteen founding members laid out basic principles which form the framework for the governing by-laws. These principles include: the commitment to non-violence, a spirit of volunteerism, the inclusion of Tibetans in the decision-making process and the goal of Tibetan independence.

A unique feature of the by-laws is the stipulation that of the president and vice-president of each CTC branch, one must be Tibetan and the other non-Tibetan. Together branch presidents and vice-presidents form the CTC Board of Directors. This system of integration has been an essential factor in the sustainability of the Canada Tibet Committee as a legitimate voice for the Tibetan cause in Canada.

The CTC currently administers five branches across Canada. We are funded entirely by private donations, special events and our membership campaign. To support our work LINK

Activities

Making a difference locally, the CTC organizes demonstrations and rallies, lecture series, film festivals, cultural events and more. The goal of the grassroots activities is to develop a base of support at the community level which in turn supports national and international campaigns.

Making a difference nationally, the CTC presents a unified voice for the Tibetan movement in Canada with the federal government. Working relationships have been developed with officials at the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, CIDA, the Department of Immigration, and Heritage Canada. The CTC is invited each year to participate in government consultations on human rights issues. Additionally, the CTC facilitates meetings between Tibetan representatives visiting Canada and government officials.

At the Parliamentary level, we initiated a Canadian Parliamentary Friends of Tibet (PFT) group in 1989. The PFT now numbers some 30 members of Parliament and senators from all parties. The PFT issued the invitation to His Holiness the Dalai Lama for his first visit to Ottawa in 1990, facilitated two parliamentary hearings on Tibet, and has hosted several receptions and events in Ottawa. PFT members speak at Tibet rallies and participate in letter-writing campaigns. PFT member, Senator Consiglio Di Nino, sits on the World Parliamentarians' Convention on Tibet.

Finally, the CTC works in partnership with other Canadian NGOs who share common goals, including human rights, health, women's, indigenous and environmental organizations.

Making a difference internationally, the CTC participates in activities coordinated by the Canadian Network for International Human Rights (NIHR) and the International Tibet Support Network (ITSN).

As a member of the NIHR, the CTC receives information regarding the activities of the United Nations, the OECD, the World Trade Organization and Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum. We participate in joint NIHR programs such as urgent actions, letter campaigns, public statements and preparation for United Nations' conferences and government consultations.

The CTC administers World Tibet Network News, a global electronic communication system designed to serve the Tibet support community. It also publishes the "Canada Tibet Newsletter", distributed across the country and to Canadian MPs.

As the CTC enters our twenty-sixth year of activities, projects are pursued by a young and dynamic membership. With their efforts and with the compassion and guidance of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Tibet will once again become a "zone of peace", an independent state valuing universal responsibility welcomed into the international community of nations.