Tibetans consider Tenzin Gyaso, the 14th Dalai Lama, to be the living embodiment of Chenrezig, the Buddha of Compassion, and their spiritual and temporal leader. Throughout more than 40 years of exile, the Dalai Lama has worked to promote international awareness of Tibet and a non-violent means of regaining Tibet’s freedom.

In 1988, the Dalai Lama put forward the “Strasbourg Proposal” in which he called for genuine autonomy for Tibet rather than complete independence – a major concession.

The Government-in-Exile has drafted a constitution for an autonomous and democratic Tibet and holds elections for the Tibetan Parliament.