Richard Gere to Receive Inaugural Visionary Award for Tibet Advocacy
By Tenzin Chokyi
DHARAMSALA 3 Oct: Human Rights First, a US-based human rights advocacy group, has announced that Oscar-nominated actor and longtime Tibet advocate Richard Gere will receive its inaugural Visionary Award. The honour recognises his lifelong commitment to defending the rights and dignity of oppressed people around the world.
Richard Gere will be the first-ever recipient of the Visionary Award, an honour newly created by Human Rights First to recognise individuals who use their influence, professional achievements, and creativity to champion human rights and drive meaningful global change.
The award will be presented at the 2025 Human Rights First Awards Celebration, taking place on October 14 at Gotham Hall in New York City.
“Richard Gere has dedicated a storied career not only to artistic expression as an actor, producer and photographer, but also to championing the rights and dignity of oppressed people worldwide”, Human Rights First stated in its announcement.
The honur recognises over four decades of “his advocacy for the human rights of Tibetans, exemplified by his chairing the International Campaign for Tibet (ICT) and co-founding Tibet House US, which have shaped bipartisan US and international policy and thwarted Chinese Communist Party efforts to co-opt Tibetan culture”.
Uzra Zeya, President and CEO of Human Rights First and former U.S. Special Coordinator for Tibetan Issues, praised Richard Gere for using his artistic influence to champion human rights and justice throughout his life. She highlighted his ability to inspire global solidarity and advocate for universal human dignity.
“Richard Gere embodies the spirit of artistry in service of justice. His lifetime commitment to putting human rights first demonstrates the transformative power of artistic excellence in speaking truth to power and mobilizing global solidarity that transcends both physical and ideological boundaries. Richard Gere’s example reminds us that human rights are for everybody, and everybody deserves rights”, Uzra Zeya said.
The recognition reflects decades of Gere’s deep commitment, rooted in a personal journey that began in the late 1970s and evolved into a powerful voice for Tibetan rights and global human dignity.
The Hollywood star began practicing Buddhism in 1978 during a transitional period in his life, when he was respected within the industry but had not yet become a household name. His spiritual journey was sparked by what he describes as a profound dissonance with life—an existential inquiry into the world both within and beyond himself.
His first meeting with the Dalai Lama in 1981 marked the beginning of Gere’s deep involvement with the Tibetan community. Through his time in Dharamsala and close engagement with the Tibetan diaspora, he was introduced to the political struggles of the Tibetan people, which became a central focus of his lifelong advocacy for Tibetan rights and human dignity.
Following this transformative experience, Gere’s activism expanded rapidly throughout the 1980s. He became a vocal advocate for the Tibetan people, co-founding Tibet House US in 1987 and later serving as chairman of the ICT from 1995 onward.
In 1991, he established the Gere Foundation, which not only supports Tibetan cultural and human rights efforts but also funds broader humanitarian work. The foundation has played a key role in global AIDS awareness and treatment programs, especially in India, and supports initiatives related to public health, education, disaster relief, and refugee aid in regions including Nepal, Bhutan, Mongolia, Central America, and the Middle East.
