Anna Kwok
Take action
Story behind
Anna is a Hong Kong democracy advocate and human rights defender living in exile.
Through her work at the Hong Kong Democracy Council (HKDC), Anna has worked to advance human rights, fundamental freedoms, and democratic participation for the people of Hong Kong. From abroad, she engaged with governments, civil society, and the United Nations to raise concerns about the impact of national security legislations on civil society.
Leaving Hong Kong did not end her commitment to her community. Instead, Anna continued her advocacy internationally, including through engagement with UN human rights mechanisms.
What happened
Anna’s story demonstrates how reprisals can extend far beyond borders and reach the families of those who speak out.
Because of her human rights advocacy and international engagement, Anna has become the target of a growing campaign of transnational repression. Hong Kong authorities have publicly designated her as a wanted person under national security legislation, issued an arrest warrant against her, revoked her passport, and offered a financial reward for information leading to her arrest.
The United Nations has raised concerns about actions taken against Anna and other activists living in exile, highlighting the chilling effect that national security laws can have on human rights defenders and civil society. In 2025, Anna’s case was included in the UN Secretary-General’s report on reprisals, in connection with her ongoing engagement with UN human rights mechanisms.
But the impact of transnational repression is not limited to those directly targeted.
In 2026, Anna’s father was sentenced to eight months’ imprisonment in in what human rights groups described as the first known persecution of a family member of an exiled Hong Kong activist under national security legislation. His prosecution raised serious concerns about the targeting of family members as a means of punishing and intimidating human rights defenders beyond borders.
Anna’s experience illustrates how reprisals follow defenders into exile and reach the people closest to them.
What do we want
We want transnational repression against Anna to end so she can speak out freely, continue her human rights work, and either return home safely or live abroad without fear of retaliation
Stay in the loop!
Would you like to be informed of future events, news, updates on our work, invitations and appeals?
- Profile image
- Photo credit for profile image
@Private - curtosy of Anna Kwok
- Hero image
- Country
- From Region
- Story behind
Anna is a Hong Kong democracy advocate and human rights defender living in exile.
Through her work at the Hong Kong Democracy Council (HKDC), Anna has worked to advance human rights, fundamental freedoms, and democratic participation for the people of Hong Kong. From abroad, she engaged with governments, civil society, and the United Nations to raise concerns about the impact of national security legislations on civil society.
Leaving Hong Kong did not end her commitment to her community. Instead, Anna continued her advocacy internationally, including through engagement with UN human rights mechanisms.
- What happened
Anna’s story demonstrates how reprisals can extend far beyond borders and reach the families of those who speak out.
Because of her human rights advocacy and international engagement, Anna has become the target of a growing campaign of transnational repression. Hong Kong authorities have publicly designated her as a wanted person under national security legislation, issued an arrest warrant against her, revoked her passport, and offered a financial reward for information leading to her arrest.
The United Nations has raised concerns about actions taken against Anna and other activists living in exile, highlighting the chilling effect that national security laws can have on human rights defenders and civil society. In 2025, Anna’s case was included in the UN Secretary-General’s report on reprisals, in connection with her ongoing engagement with UN human rights mechanisms.
But the impact of transnational repression is not limited to those directly targeted.
In 2026, Anna’s father was sentenced to eight months’ imprisonment in in what human rights groups described as the first known persecution of a family member of an exiled Hong Kong activist under national security legislation. His prosecution raised serious concerns about the targeting of family members as a means of punishing and intimidating human rights defenders beyond borders.
Anna’s experience illustrates how reprisals follow defenders into exile and reach the people closest to them.
- What do we want
We want transnational repression against Anna to end so she can speak out freely, continue her human rights work, and either return home safely or live abroad without fear of retaliation
- Call To Action
Send a message to States that raised cases of reprisals in the past. Urge them to raise the cases of Anna and shed light on her story and the threats she is facing while in exile.
- Active campaign?
- Yes
- Take Action
- Take Action