“The road ahead may be uncertain and the future turbulent, but we remain
committed to fostering peace and dialogue.”
Dear friend of Dui Hua,
2024 has been a very tough year. Despite all the challenges, Dui Hua has remained resilient, celebrating its 25th anniversary and ending it on a high note.
The release of US citizens by China on September 15th and November 27th, will be forever etched in memory. Knowing that they would be able to spend Thanksgiving with family after years of separation, brought such relief. And now they will ring in the New Year together.
In the many years I worked on these cases, I got to know all the players — the prisoners and their families, American and Chinese officials, the United Nations officials who determined that two of the prisoners were arbitrarily detained, lawyers who worked pro bono, dedicated journalists. Together we achieved something once thought impossible: A US-China prisoner swap. It was a stunning outcome that all of us are rightly proud of.
The issue of wrongfully detained people for political reasons is one that is near and dear to my heart. One of the earliest cases I worked on was that of Zhang Lin, a June 4 1989 protesters who went on to be sentenced to prison five times for different political offenses. He is now living in the United States where he carries on the struggle for democracy in his homeland.
I made a commitment in 1990 to use all the capital I gained by helping China to keep its access to the US market to press for the release of political prisoners. In 1999, with the support of a group of like-minded businessmen and businesswomen, I launched the Dui Hua Foundation. Since those days 25 years ago, much has been achieved by this unique experiment in human rights diplomacy: lists submitted, expert exchanges held, unique research released. The foundation has attracted the support of individuals, foundations, and governments.
2024 has seen many achievements for Dui Hua. Our holiday video outlines these.
The road ahead may be uncertain and the future turbulent, but we remain committed to fostering peace and dialogue. Dui Hua will continue to forge ahead, finding information on and advocating for those who are silenced and at-risk.
It is with your support that we are able to continue the vital work of maintaining dialogue. Please know that your continued interest and involvement helps us make a meaningful difference as we gear up for 2025.
Wishing you a joyful holiday season and a hopeful new year.
Sincerely,
John Kamm
Executive Director
The Dui Hua Foundation
