Mission & Vision
Even in the darkest corners,
we will find ways to light a candle.
In 2021, Amnesty International made the difficult decision to cease our operations in Hong Kong due to mounting political pressures. Yet over the years, Amnesty International has continued to maintain unwavering faith in the people of Hong Kong, never losing hope even for a moment.
At a global level, our ongoing efforts are dedicated to monitoring and reporting on human rights violations in Hong Kong as well as conducting research on Hong Kong human rights issues. On the other hand, Amnesty International has worked tirelessly to explore various feasible and innovative solutions to continue advocating for human rights in Hong Kong, combining a local touch with a global presence.
Against this backdrop, it is with immense pleasure that we announce the launch of Amnesty International Hong Kong Overseas Section (AIHKO). AIHKO is a newly formed non-profit entity registered in Switzerland with a global, distributed presence, through which we hope to live up to the spirit of “be water”.
The forms and magnitude of repression which Hong Kong has witnessed in recent years stretch even our wildest imagination; worse still, the long reach of unrelenting repression by the Chinese and Hong Kong governments knows no bounds: numerous human rights advocates who have fled their hometown are now being pursued by the Hong Kong authorities with bounties and arrest warrants, while students who study abroad continue to live in constant fear of transnational repression.
These pressing political challenges are precisely why we felt it necessary to establish an overseas entity dedicated to human rights work in Hong Kong. We trust that in face of authoritarianism, people are always the strongest force pushing for progressive and sustainable social change. Therefore, a section for the people, of the people, by the people is more important now than ever. This will always serve as the North Star for AIHKO in the years to come.
Confronted with the growing threat of authoritarianism and its assault on human rights worldwide, it is evident that the challenges facing Hong Kongers are not unique. AIHKO hopes to serve as a platform that fosters global solidarity, which facilitates the exchange of ideas and skills amongst activists from all over the world who fearlessly fight against authoritarian regimes.
Our goal is to remain agile and resilient even under the most difficult political circumstances while empowering all individuals to stand tall in face of human rights abuses and authoritarian practices. With this goal in mind, we will also continue Amnesty’s long-standing tradition of working closely with allies across various human rights issues, both regionally and internationally.
Beyond just reviving the work of Hong Kong’s human rights advocacy, AIHKO also serves as an experiment that hints at a larger objective: to explore how Amnesty International can find a balance between representing local voices and maintaining organisational agility in places with the worst human rights abuses that pose the greatest threats to our operations.
Even in the darkest corners, we will find ways to light a candle. We continue to stand with the people of Hong Kong, whether they are imprisoned, exiled, still fighting on the ground or elsewhere. No one is truly free until everyone is free. We call upon you all to join us in this fight, for freedom and human rights.