Banners reading 'End human rights abuses in Tibet' and 'Stop the genocide in China' were accompanied by a vocal call for the release of Gedhun Choekyi Nyima the XI Panchen Lama who has been detained since the age of six years old, and an end to the use of torture against Tibetans and Falun Gong practitioners detained by the Chinese authorities. Supporters and members of the public were urged by organisers to take action on behalf of political prisoners such as Dhondup Wangchen, director of the film 'Leaving Fear Behind' who was detained on 26 March this year and remains in detention.

Rights groups have condemned the Chinese government's human rights record in Tibet and China. "Despite voting in favour of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights sixty years ago the Chinese government are continuing to fail to adhere to that historic document at the cost of Tibetan lives," said Terry Bettger, Campaigns Coordinator of Students for a Free Tibet UK, "The UN Committee Against Torture has stated that the use of torture by the Chinese authorities against Tibetan political prisoners is 'routine and widespread'. It is vital that world leaders and decision makers apply firm pressure upon the Chinese government to respect the fundamental human rights of the Tibetan people and to cease the sickening use of torture."