London: A delegation from the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile (TPiE), led by Speaker Khenpo Sonam Tenphel and accompanied by parliamentarian Dawa Tsering, continued their official visit to the United Kingdom on 19th November 2024.

During their engagement, they met with key leaders, including the Speaker of the House of Commons, Members of Parliament (MPs), and other prominent figures.

The delegation had a series of highly productive meetings with the Speaker of the House of Commons, Sir Lindsay Hoyle; Liberal Democrat spokesperson on Defence (House of Lords) and Member of the Federal Executive Committee, Baroness Julie Smith; Member of the House of Lords, Lord David Alton; and Liberal Democrat Member of Parliament, Sir Bobby Dean.

These engagements provided the delegation with valuable insights into the legislative processes of the UK Parliament. They explored how an idea evolves into a political party’s policy, its navigation through the House of Lords, and the procedural steps required for a bill to be introduced, debated, and ultimately passed into legislation by both Houses of Parliament.

The delegation also gained a deeper understanding of the protocol and responsibilities of the Speaker of the House of Commons. During the discussions, Mr. Speaker emphasized the importance of resuming dialogue with China to address and resolve the Sino-Tibet issue. Speaker Khenpo Sonam Tenphel also appealed to the Speaker of the House of Commons to consider adopting a policy similar to the U.S. Resolve Tibet Act.

The pressing human rights violations in Tibet, with a particular focus on China’s assimilation and repression policies was also highlighted during the meeting by the Speaker of TPiE. He also drew attention to alarming issues such as the forced boarding school policy, mass DNA sample collection, the closure of Tibetan schools, and the systematic degradation of monasteries – policies designed to undermine Tibetan cultural identity and heritage.

The meeting underscored the shared commitment to addressing human rights concerns and fostering greater understanding of legislative processes, offering opportunities for collaboration between the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile and the UK Parliament.