The Tibet Bureau in Geneva
The Tibet Bureau in Geneva is the official agency of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Central Tibetan Administration with their headquarters in Dharamsala, India. The Tibet Bureau was established in 1964 in approval from the Swiss Federal Government. The office is responsible for Tibetan affairs in Central and Eastern Europe.
It’s main functions are
- Preparing visits of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and officials of the Central Tibetan Administration
- Look after the welfare of Tibetans living in Europe and to strengthen their relationship with the Central Tibetan Administration
- Support the preservation and promotion of Tibetan culture, religion and language
- To inform and seek support from governments, parliamentarians, international institutions, NGOs and interested individuals about the situation in Tibet and the Tibetan issue
- To maintain contact with Chinese in Europe including from mainland China to explain His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s position to resolve the Tibet issue through non-violence
- To raise the Tibet issues in UN Human Rights Council sessions
- Seek funds for education, health and other social developmental projects
Contact Address
Place de la Navigation 10
CH-1201 Geneva
Switzerland
Tel.: +41.22.738.7940
Fax: +41.22.738.7941
E-mail: info@tibetoffice.ch
Website: www.tibetoffice.ch
By phone
Monday - Friday
Morning: 09.00 - 13.00 Hour
Afternoon: 14.00 - 17.00 Hour
The Representative of H. H. the Dalai Lama at The Tibet Bureau, Geneva
Thinlay Chukki formally took charge as the new Representative of His Holiness the Dalia Lama and the Central Tibetan Administration at the Tibet Bureau on 30 June 2022.
Thinlay Chukki graduated from Harvard Law School with a Master’s Degree in Law (LL.M) in 2018 and joined the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) on her return to India. For two years, she worked at the Tibet Bureau Geneva as a Special Appointee for Human Rights till 27 August 2021. Prior to this, she worked as a researcher at the UN, EU, and Human Rights Desk, Department of Information and International Relations, CTA. She worked as a researcher at the UN, EU and Human Rights Desk, She also worked as an in-house Counsel at TATA Motors Ltd., heading its South- India Legal Department as Regional Legal Manager, South-India for almost 5 years. She has also been invited to speak at several conferences including at UN Side-Events and C20 Conference 2020 and has also organized talks on Tibet including at Harvard Law School. She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Law (LL.B) from SDM Law College, Mangalore University with distinction and gold medals in 2010 and received her Master’s Degree in Law (LL.M) from National Law School of India University, Bangalore in 2012.
Names of Representative of Tibet Bureau since its establishment:
1 | Mr. Phala Thupten Woenden | 1964 - 1973 |
2 | Mr. Nehnang Lopsang Choepel | 1973 - 1976 |
3 | Mr. Sangling Tsering Dorjee | 1976 - 1985 |
4 | Mr. Kelsang Gyaltsen | 1 Sep 1985 – Feb 1992 |
5 | Mr. Gyaltsen Gyaltag | Nov 1991 - Sep 1995 |
6 | Mrs. Koren Chungdak | 5 Sep 1995 – 26 Aug 2001 |
7 | Mr. Chhime Rigzing Chhoekyapa | 27 Aug 2001 – 15 Sep 2005 |
8 | Mr. Kelsang Gyaltsen | 1 Sep 2005 – 30 Mar 2008 |
9 | Mr. Tseten Samdup Chhoekyapa | 1 April 2008 - 30 September 2014 |
10 | Mr. Ngodup Dorjee | 01 October 2014 - 06 March 2019 |
11 | Mr. Chhimey Rigzen | 07 March 2019 - 29 June 2022 |