As well as TWA’s international presence, working to raise awareness of the problems endured by Tibetan women in exile and in Tibet, it is a top priority of TWA to support the women inside Tibet as best we can and to disseminate information on their plight.
One crucial issue facing women in Tibet is the supression of reproduction rights; on this topic TWA has published a book entitled Tears of Silence, the first edition in 1994 and subsequent updated editions in 1995, 2002 and 2009. Research found that whilst forced abortions and compulosory sterilizations were no longer endemic after the 1980s, and the government’s approach changed in the mid 1990s to imposing fines rather than force, brutal enforcement of reproduction policies continues to occur. Furthermore, Tibetan women refugees reveal that women in Tibet are often unaware of their right to have more that two children, and to refuse abortions and sterilizations. They are also often unaware of alternative family planning methods such as contraception. This short video report on forced sterlization in Tibet offers a helpful introduction. In the light of China’s current plans to gain greater control of Tibet by resettling its entire nomadic population into fixed accomodation (see Purging the Treasure House: displacement and the status of the Tibetan nomad [TWA, 2011]), it seems that a wider enforcement of reproduction policies may be on the cards.
This page covers TWA’s work to support or campaign on behalf of women in Tibet. See our Tibet news page for other reports on Tibetan women.
Recent Women in Tibet news:
Tibetan Women commemorated the 53rd anniversary of National Women’s Uprising Day
03-13-2012 Statement of Tibetan Women’s Association
On the occasion of 53rd commemoration anniversary of National Tibetan Women’s Uprising Day
Dharamsala, March 12, 2012: As we commemorate the 53rd anniversary of Women’s Uprising Day today, we remember the great sacrifices that brave Tibetan women have made and continue to make in the name of Tibet. It is the steadfast, undeterred presence of Tibetan women and their resilience in the face of oppression that encourages this self-sustaining strug...Tibetan Women to commemorate the 53rd anniversary of National Women’s Uprising Day
03-12-2012 TWA honors 53 years of peaceful resistance by Tibetan women
Tomorrow on March 12, the Tibetan Women’s Association and its global network of chapters will mark the 53rd anniversary of the National Women’s Uprising Day in Lhasa, Tibet.
53 years ago, on this very day, the Tibetan women from all the three provinces of Tibet, for the first time in history stood united and engaged in peaceful resistance against the Chinese oppression. Since then Tibetan women have had a steadfast pre...MARCH 12, 2012: 53 YEARS OF PEACEFUL RESISTANCE BY TIBETAN WOMEN
03-09-2012 On March 12, 2012, on the momentous occasion of the 53rd anniversary of National Tibetan Women’s Uprising Day, and 53rd founding anniversary of Tibetan Women’s Association, let us honor our brave Tibetan heroines whose undying female spirit still perseveres in Tibetan women inside and outside Tibet.
Partake in the ‘March 12 Event’ and Join the ‘Women’s Peace Rally’ organized by a Regional Tibetan Women’s Association chapter in your area.
Follow the March 12 event of Central...TWA holds global solidarity actions in honor of Tibetan martyrs
10-19-2011 Tibetan nun self-immolates in Ngaba, Tibet: below image shows charred body of nun Tenzin Wangmo, after seven minutes of acute burning. Fellow nuns from the nunnery rush to the scene in Amdo Ngaba. We thank Mr. Jonang Shangpo for entrusting TWA with this photo.
Dharamsala, October 19: Today the Tibetan Women’s Association and its 56 chapters spread across the globe have organized and participated in global solidarity actions - peace rallies, candle light vigils, prayer services and fasting...TWA embarks on Sustainable Development Projects for Tibetan Women inside Tibet
07-05-2011 Dharamsala: On the eve of the occasion of His Holiness Dalai Lama’s 76th birthday, the Women’s Environment and Development Desk (WEDD) of Tibetan Women’s Association is launching its first phase of sustainable development projects inside Tibet to benefit Tibetan Women, particularly the displaced nomadic women.
The nomadic way of life in Tibet is increasingly under threat from changing social, political and environmental conditions. In September 2010, British newspaper 'The Guardian' re...Remembering the victims of the Kyegudo earthquake
04-14-2011 Dharamsala: On the second anniversary of the massive earthquake that wrecked Kyegudo, eastern Tibet on April 14, 2010, leaving more than 2000 dead and 10,000 injured, including women and children, the Tibetan Women’s Association donated One Lakh, Thirty Five Thousand Rupees (Rs. 1,35,000) to the survivors of the Kyegudo earthquake. Last year, days after the disastrous earthquake struck the homes in Kyegudo, TWA and its regional chapters raised One Million Rupees (Rs. 10,00,000), its largest ev...
Read all past Women in Tibet news from Tibetan Women's Association.
Connect with TWA