SECTION IX, #A,B,C: CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

Women delegates protesting at the Beijing conference Women delegates gagged to symolize China's silencing of Tibetan women's voices at the Beijing conference

SECTION IX: CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

A. Bringing the Platform to the Tibetan Community and the World

A first major step in follow-up to Beijing is to educate the Tibetan
exile community about the issues addressed in the PFA and the work yet
to be done. Translation of the important sections into Tibetan can
facilitate this process.  The translated document could be distributed
to Tibetan Government-in-exile offices, members of the Parliament, 
NGOs and the Tibetan public in general. 

Second, using the Platform for Action, the Tibet NGOs, particularly 
TWA and other women's organisations who participated in the Beijing 
Conference, should continue to address the concerns of Tibetan 
women both in Tibet and in exile. The issues specific to Tibetan women
in Tibet should be brought to the notice of the international community 
and the Chinese government for appropriate action. Issues of relevance
to Tibetan women in the exile community should be addressed to the 
Members of the Parliament and the Tibetan Government-in-exile.

B. Tibet NGOs Working Together

The UN FWCW and the two years of preparation represent perhaps 
the first time that Tibet NGOs from four continents have worked together 
on one complex long term project.The support from the international 
community and the media attention received all bear testimony to the 
success of this campaign. The experience provides a good lesson for 
all about the strengths of working together and presenting a common 
voice.  On the other hand, the campaign was not without its problems.
In spite of appeals from the organisations represented in the TWD, the 
support from some Tibet NGOs was limited. The positive outcome of this 
campaign clearly indicates that enhanced cooperative and unified work 
on future projects related to Tibet can substantially increase 
international awareness and support for Tibet. The TWD hopes that the
Beijing experience has initiated the process of unifying and 
coordinating the efforts of Tibet NGOs around the world.

C. Tibet NGOs and the Tibetan Government-in-exile

As the largest Tibetan women's organisation and as international 
coordinator of the UN FWCW initiative, the Tibetan Women's
Association continuously informed the Tibetan Government-in-
exile of the progress of the campaign. TWA requested that the 
Tibetan Government-in-exile participate in the conference.The 
Tibetan Government-in-exile Women's Issues Desk of the 
Department of Information and International Relations prepared 
a National Report for the conference, but the government chose
not to be involved otherwise.The National Report focuses on the
conditions of Tibetan women inside Tibet and gives a brief account 
of the status of Tibetan women living in exile. Unfortunately, the 
report was not published before the Final UN FWCW Preparatory 
Meeting, as is done in many  other countries of the world, and 
was received too late for use at the UN FWCW. In the future, 
Tibet NGOs should have more access to   provide suggestions 
and comments to draft reports and such reports should be
completed in time for use at designated conferences.

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