Established in 2014, Civil Rights Observer focusing on police use of power as well as civil and political rights in Hong Kong. We document and monitor issues like police abuse of power, violation of freedom of peaceful assembly and freedom of speech. And we work tirelessly to advocate for changes.
The 4 main aspects of our work are: Human Rights Education, Police Use of Power Monitoring, Policy Advocacy, and Urgent Human Rights Assistance.
To provide a clearer and more complete picture of the human rights situation in Hong Kong, Civil Rights Observer documents significant incidents and issues based on our first-hand observation and interviews.
To foster the improvement in the human rights situation in Hong Kong, Civil Rights Observer participates in domestic advocacy works and the U.N. mechanism.
To monitor the use of the public power and gather the first-hand information in public events, Civil Rights Observer dispatches human rights observers to public events for recording and documentation.
To enhance the accessibility of legal aid and the legal capacity of protection of every individual, Civil Rights Observer provides pro bono legal assistance and services to individuals in need.
co-Founder
Icarus is a vocal advocate on freedom of assembly and issues of police powers. He discovered the complete lack of accountability and regard for human rights of detainees through his personal experience of being stripped and searched while under arrest for protesting against the redevelopment of Lee Tung Street in 2007. Together with other civil society and human rights groups, Icarus lobbied for his cause at both the Legislative Council and the United Nations. He successfully urged the Hong Kong Police to conduct a thorough review over the procedures of conducting strip search.
He was the vice-convener of the Civil Human Rights Front (CHRF), as well as convener of the Police Powers Monitoring Group under the CHRF. Icarus is also concerned with how urban redevelopment affects human rights. Previously, he helped minority owners deal with lawsuits about compulsory sales and harassment from purchasers.
Icarus obtained a Master of Laws in Human Rights (LL.M) from the University of Hong Kong in 2017.
co-FOUNDER
Andrew has been an active social movement organiser and human rights worker in Hong Kong for many years. He has organised many large scale rallies, assemblies and civic actions, including the annual July 1st rally, the anti-national education assembly in 2012, and several major assemblies outside the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government. He has led negotiations with the police over arrangement for large scale rallies and assemblies, and fought for the freedom to protest during the course. He followed up on cases concerning abuse of power by the police. Andrew was the vice-convener of the Civil Human Rights Front (CHRF), as well as the convener of the Civil Alliance Against National Education. He advocated in front of the United Nations Committee Against Torture in 2015 together with fellow Civil Rights Observer member, Icarus Wong Ho-yin.
Also a professional teacher, Andrew has given lectures and training courses for human rights instructors, and is particularly concerned with the development of human rights education in Hong Kong. Andrew obtained a Master of Laws in Human Rights (LL.M) from the University of Hong Kong in 2017.
It is not an easy job to champion human rights in today’s Hong Kong indeed, but we will stand firm to our mission. Your proactive participation as a member of civil society is crucial to us. We would like to invite you to join us on our journey of defending human rights in Hong Kong.
Please let us know if you have any opinions toward our works, or if you want to learn more about what we are doing.
And if you, like we do, believe in human rights and dignity, please join our monthly donation program to making this the reality.
Civil Rights Observer is a project of Civic Incubator Ltd.
