SFT awarded Democracy Courage Tribute
DHARAMSALA, 9 July: The World Movement for Democracy has declared the Students for a Free Tibet the joint winner of this year’s Democracy Courage Tribute along with the Hong Kong Watch, and Campaign for Uyghurs.
The award was presented to the activist groups at the 10th World Movement for Democracy’s Global Assembly on Thursday. The award citation read that “it honors the activists bravely working to build solidarity and resilience against China’s authoritarian measures.”
“Three groups, Students for a Free Tibet, the Campaign for Uyghurs, and Hong Kong Watch, epitomize the courage that democracy activists take in the face of repression. Bridging different communities, the members of these groups work, through activities such as youth organizing and online collaboration, to report on human rights violations and advocate for democracy in an increasingly unfree part of the world,” read the statement issued by the World Movement for Democracy.
SFT Executive Director Dorjee Tseten who joined the World Movement for Democracy award ceremony virtually said “SFT is honored to accept this award which recognizes the unprecedented cross-movement initiatives representing nations struggling for freedom from China’s oppression” and added that “activists and communities worldwide are coming together to fight the world’s greatest threat to democracy, the Chinese Communist Party.”
“As one of the leading organizations coordinating this global alliance for freedom and democracy, we dedicate this award to our Tibetan brothers and sisters in Tibet and their indomitable spirit of resistance. We are committed to the nonviolent method of resistance exemplified by His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama.”
Rushan Abbas, Executive Director of Campaign for Uyghurs has said that “we are so thankful to be counted among such strong and powerful allies in receiving this award. The work being done in Hong Kong and Tibet is part of the larger struggle for human rights that defines the fight against Genocide in East Turkistan.”
“It is of utmost importance that these relationships be maintained and strengthened, as we share a common enemy in the CCP, whose genocidal policies today are equivalent with waging a war against all humanity, and tomorrow may reach beyond the Uyghurs to affect more and more vulnerable peoples worldwide.”
Joey Siu from Hong Kong Watch has said that her organization is “honored to be awarded the Tribute alongside our outstanding allies of Students for a Free Tibet and Campaign for Uyghurs.”
“As Hong Kong and other communities continue to experience the Chinese Communist Party’s escalating crackdowns on our freedom and democracy, it is more important than ever that we stand in solidarity to continue the fight.” Siu said and added that “We are accepting this award, not only on behalf of our organization but on behalf of all the courageous people who have joined the fight to defend Hong Kong.”
Twenty years ago, over 400 democrats gathered in New Delhi, India to form the World Movement for Democracy, an international network of civil society activists, scholars, parliamentarians, thought leaders, journalists, and funders who share the common goal of promoting democracy.
