"The Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) of Tibetans in exile is encouraged by the powerful statement of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, on Friday," Tibet's Prime Minister-in-exile Lobsang Sangay said.
"The CTA considers the statement as true recognition of the urgent and tragic situation in Tibet," he said.
Pillay had urged the Chinese government to promptly address the long-standing grievances of Tibetans that have led to an alarming escalation in desperate forms of protest, including self-immolations.
The CTA also appealed to the 47-member states of the United Nations Human Rights Commission to convene a special session on Tibet.