Sophie Richardson, a well-known human rights advocate and scholar on Chinese politics, has been appointed as the Co-Executive Director of the Network of Chinese Human Rights Defenders (CHRD). The announcement was made by the organization on January 2, 2025. Dr. Richardson will begin her role immediately.
The CHRD is a coalition of both Chinese and international human rights organizations that focus on promoting human rights in China through peaceful advocacy for democratic reforms and strengthening grassroots activism. Established in 2005, it is recognized globally for its expertise and support in human rights issues.
Renee Xia, CHRD’s founding director who will share the co-executive directorship with Dr. Richardson, said, "Dr. Richardson brings decades of research expertise, rigorous analytic skills, and a bold vision for a strategic rights-based approach to addressing systemic human rights challenges in China."
In 2024, Dr. Richardson was a Visiting Scholar at Stanford University’s Center on Democracy, Development and the Rule of Law. Her research there focused on how democracies can address global human rights violations by the Chinese government and Communist Party. She is also working on a book titled "Great Changes Unseen in a Century: How to Save Democracy and Human Rights from Xi Jinping."
From 2006 to 2023, she served as China Director at Human Rights Watch where she led research and advocacy efforts. Her extensive publications include testimonies before various parliaments including those of Canada, Europe, and the United States.
Dr. Richardson holds a doctorate from the University of Virginia along with other academic credentials from Oberlin College and the Hopkins-Nanjing Program. She first visited China in 1989 but was sanctioned by its government in July 2021.
In her new role at CHRD, Dr. Richardson will oversee programmatic work focusing on research, advocacy, communications while working closely with activists to build strong teams and coalitions aimed at protecting human rights defenders in China.
"Human rights defenders across and from China are essential on every crucial issue," said Dr. Richardson. "I am humbled to work with CHRD’s extraordinary team in service of this community."
For further information regarding this appointment or other inquiries, Renee Xia can be contacted via email at reneexia@nchrd.org or contact@nchrd.org.
