Tenzin Nyidon
DHARAMSHALA, Oct. 3: Human Rights First, a leading nonpartisan international rights organization based in the United States, has announced that Hollywood legend and longtime advocate for Tibet, Richard Gere, will be awarded its first-ever Visionary Award.
The honour recognizes his extraordinary use of influence, artistry, and creativity to advance human rights and effect lasting global impact. The award will be formally presented during the 2025 Human Rights First Awards Celebration on October 14 at Gotham Hall in New York City.
“Richard Gere has dedicated a storied career not only to artistic expression as actor, producer, and photographer, but also to championing the rights and dignity of oppressed people worldwide. His lifetime of steadfast advocacy for the human rights of Tibetans – exemplified by his chairing the International Campaign for Tibet and co-founding Tibet House US– have shaped bipartisan U.S. and international policy and thwarted Chinese Communist Party efforts to co-opt Tibetan culture,” the organisation stated.
Richard Gere’s advocacy for Tibet traces back to the late 1970s, when he first encountered Tibetan Buddhism, a spiritual path that transformed his life. His commitment deepened profoundly after his first meeting with His Holiness the Dalai Lama in Dharamshala in 1981. The encounter, which the actor has often described as life-changing, not only deepened his spiritual devotion but also drew him directly into the Tibetan freedom struggle movement. From then on, he became one of the most prominent Western advocates for Tibet, consistently using his voice and visibility to highlight the plight of the Tibetan people.
Among his lasting contributions, Gere co-founded Tibet House US in New York in 1987 to preserve and promote Tibetan culture in exile. He went on to serve as the long-time chair of the International Campaign for Tibet, a leading advocacy group that has played a pivotal role in mobilizing bipartisan support for Tibet within Washington. He has testified before the U.S. Congress, lobbied for key legislation such as the Tibetan Policy and Support Act, and pressed successive U.S. administrations to prioritize Tibet in foreign policy.
Beyond Tibet-specific activism, the Hollywood actor has consistently challenged China’s human rights record in international forums. He addressed the United Nations on Tibet and China’s repression and became a rare Hollywood figure to openly denounce Beijing despite the risks. Famously, at the 1993 Academy Awards, Gere used his platform to condemn China’s brutal policies in Tibet, a move that led to his unofficial ban from presenting at future Oscars and contributed to his exclusion from major Hollywood productions reliant on Chinese markets. Despite such professional repercussions, Gere has remained steadfast, leveraging his global celebrity to keep Tibet on the international agenda.
Uzra Zeya, President and CEO of Human Rights First, former U.S. Special Coordinator for Tibetan Issue, remarked, “As the inaugural recipient of the Human Rights First Visionary Award, Richard Gere embodies the spirit of artistry in service of justice. His lifetime commitment to putting human rights first demonstrates the transformative power of artistic excellence in speaking truth to power and mobilizing global solidarity that transcends both physical and ideological boundaries. Richard Gere’s example reminds us that human rights are for everybody, and everybody deserves rights.”
