Stand With Hong Kong This Human Rights Day

Six months have passed since 2 million took to the streets on June 15, but more than ten per cent of the population - 800,000 people - marched the streets on Sunday to mark Human Rights Day: calling for democracy and accountability for police brutality.

2019 saw an unprecedented crackdown on human rights in Hong Kong. The extradition bill would have seriously undermined the independence of Hong Kong’s judiciary and left their citizens vulnerable to being extradited to a jurisdiction where forced confession is normal, torture routine, and a conviction guaranteed.

During the subsequent protest movement, we have witnessed the Hong Kong Police Force arbitrarily proscribe protests, use excessive force against protestors, arrest, obstruct and assault doctors, nurses, first aiders, journalists and human rights observers, and commit serious human rights violations against protestors in detention.

Hong Kong’s protestors' core demand is universal suffrage. Article 25 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights says that everyone should have the right to stand and vote in free and fair elections. These rights should be realised in Hong Kong.

Tomorrow marks the second anniversary of Hong Kong Watch’s launch. We continue to carry the same message: the world must stand with Hong Kong. The city is the frontline in the fight for freedom. On this Human Rights Day, Hong Kongers need our solidarity more than ever as they confront encroaching totalitarianism.