Tsering Dhundup
DHARAMSHALA, Sept. 15: During the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile’s 2025 general session on Monday, lawmaker from Europe, Mr Thupten Gyatso from France expressed deep concern over challenges faced by Tibetan youth in the West.
Hehighlight a negative trend of delinquency among Tibetan youthurging Tibetan parents living in Europe and North America to devote more time and attention to their children to prevent them from falling into harmful habits such as alcohol consumption, gambling, and violence.
“Tibetan children are facing dire problems in the West. Parents who migrated to North America or Europe often say they came here for their children. But once here, they get busy with their jobs and don’t spend enough time with them. Almost 70 to 80 per cent of parents do this. If parents are not cautious, children may indulge in alcohol, gambling, and other destructive behaviours,” he said. He stressed that parental involvement and guidance are essential to ensure children grow up with proper care and discipline.
His remarks came in the backdrop of a recent viral video from Paris, where a group of Tibetan teenagers was seen violently assaulting another boy. The footage, widely circulated within the Tibetan community online, triggered shock and dismay. The video, also shared by a Tibetan YouTuber from France, drew further outrage after the teenagers allegedly threatened the YouTuber with violence when confronted. The incident has fuelled growing concern over rising youth delinquency within the Tibetan diaspora in the west.
The violent episode has divided opinions within the Tibetan community in France and beyond. While some community members have called for formal police complaints, arguing that accountability is essential to prevent such behaviour from recurring, others have urged restraint, emphasising that although the youths’ actions were unacceptable, they should not be hastily labelled as “bad kids”.
“This is saddening,” one community member said. “Ideally, the initial action should come from their own parents.” Another added, “I could not believe that such violence could happen within our own community. Violence should never be the way to solve problems. As Tibetans, we carry values of compassion, respect, and unity. But in that video, those values were completely forgotten. We must teach our younger generation better ways to resolve conflict.”
The incident has, many say, become a moment of reflection for Tibetans in exile, nearly half of whom now live outside South Asia. Many see it as a wake-up call for parents, educators, and community leaders to reinforce cultural values and provide stronger guidance for the younger generation growing up in Western societies.
MP Thupten Gyatso’s appeal in Parliament echoed this sentiment, underlining the urgent need for Tibetan parents to balance their work obligations with responsible parenting.
