Luke de Pulford

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Luke de Pulford
Luke de Pulford 3 November 2020 speaking on UK海闊天空 HkWater.jpg
Luke de Pulford in 2021
Founder and co-ordinator of The Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China
Fellow of Hong Kong Watch
Personal details
Born (1984-08-18) 18 August 1984 (age 37)
Canterbury, England, United Kingdom
Political partyConservative Party (UK)
ResidenceLondon, England, United Kingdom
EducationQueen Elizabeth's Grammar School, Faversham, Machabeng College Lesotho
Alma materUniversity of Kent
Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas
Pontifical Gregorian University
OccupationHuman rights activist
Chinese name
Chinese裴倫德

Luke John de Pulford (Chinese: 裴倫德) is a human rights campaigner, particularly in the areas of modern slavery and human rights abuses in China.[1][2][3] He coordinates the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China[4][5] which he founded with Baroness Kennedy, Iain Duncan Smith and political representatives from seven other democracies.[6][7] Pulford convened the Coalition for Genocide Response, putting a focus on the Uyghur genocide. He sits as a Commissioner on the Conservative Party Human Rights Commission and advises the World Uyghur Congress.[8][9][10]

Activism[]

Whilst de Pulford has become known for his role in the Hong Kong democracy campaign, such as confronting the pro-establishment Hong Kong politician Junius Ho[11] his human rights campaigns have covered several areas.

Modern slavery[]

In 2015, John Studzinski joined de Pulford to create Arise, an anti-slavery charity. The group worked with governments, including Taiwan, along with global bodies, such as the United Nations, on how to confront human trafficking and modern slavery.[12][13] As many victims of trafficking find themselves homeless if they are taken out of modern slavery, de Pulford has worked with politicians and community leaders to ensure governments enable long term recovery for victims.[14]

Minorities in the Middle East[]

In 2016 de Pulford ran a campaign which resulted in the first ever Parliamentary declaration of genocide in the UK Parliament regarding the treatment of Yazidis, Christians and other minorities, particularly in Iraq and Syria, a move which, according to The Guardian is "almost unprecedented."[15]

Human and democratic rights in China[]

Luke de Pulford with Hong Kong democracy leader Nathan Law in London, mid 2020
Luke de Pulford speaking in support of the Hong Kong 12 who fled by boat for Taiwan held in 'criminal detention' by China on UK海闊天空

Since 2019, de Pulford has emerged as an adviser to democracy activists in Hong Kong and to British MPs who are critical of the CCP.[16] This has been noticed by Chinese leadership and, along with Mike Pompeo and Tsai Ing-Wen, de Pulford was one of seven people cited by the Hong Kong authorities as evidence democracy campaigner Jimmy Lai was colluding with foreign forces.[17][18]

He formed the Coalition for Genocide response in the Houses of Parliament with Lord Alton and Gregory Stanton to maintain pressure on the Johnson government to prevent and punish mass atrocities against ethnic and religious groups.[19] The coalition served at the vehicle for the "Genocide Amendment" which he drafted with Lord Alton in 2020,[20] running the campaign to attach it to the 2020 Trade Bill in both the House of Lords and House of Commons. The reform would give UK judges the ability to rule whether there is evidence of genocide in another nation, thence negating a trade agreement.[21] This passed the House of Lords by a majority of 126 votes on 7 December 2020[22] and was narrowly defeated in the house of Commons on 19 January 2021.[23] He was made a fellow of Hong Kong Watch in February 2020.[24] De Pulford began a campaign in 2020 with Nathan Law to prosecute British officers serving with the Hong Kong Police Force found to have committed acts of torture during the 2019–20 Hong Kong protests.[25]

Launch and growth of I-PAC[]

In early 2020 de Pulford established[26] the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China, described variously as a "nuisance alliance" by official news organs of Communist China[27] and as a coalition “for fundamental liberties and the integrity of the international order.”[28] The alliance is substantially transatlantic with support from conservative and progressive lawmakers concerned, not only with mistreatment of Uyghur minorities, but also with China's influence on democracies around the world.[29]

Personal[]

Luke de Pulford is married with three children and lives in London. In 2020 he was awarded the Bene Merenti medal by Pope Francis for his contribution to the anti-slavery movement—the youngest known recipient. His mother is the Iconographer Amanda de Pulford.[30][31]

In May 2020, he set up a twitter poll asking for help to give himself a Cantonese name.[32] He settled on 裴倫德 in the end.[33]

References[]

  1. ^ Harding, Luke (10 August 2020). "Activists launch London legal action against UK officers in Hong Kong police". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
  2. ^ "Chinese Communist Party present at many global companies, group says". Nikkei Asia. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
  3. ^ "斥強推港版國安法踐踏人權 9議會結盟強硬抗中共 ｜ 蘋果日報". Apple Daily 蘋果日報 (in Chinese). Retrieved 24 January 2021.
  4. ^ "Un groupe de parlementaires occidentaux attaque la Chine sur la stérilisation des Ouïgoures". Le Monde.fr (in French). 29 June 2020. Retrieved 16 January 2021.
  5. ^ Hua, Sha (12 June 2020). "Global Coalition of Legislators Faces Challenges Countering China". Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
  6. ^ "Parliamentarians From Around the World Unite to Discuss the China Challenge". thediplomat.com. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
  7. ^ Hua, Sha (12 June 2020). "Global Coalition of Legislators Faces Challenges Countering China". Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
  8. ^ "The UN won't halt 'genocide hallmarks' against Uighurs but we must end Catch-22". ITV News. 3 September 2020. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
  9. ^ "Human rights activist: Investigation into Uyghur atrocities 'cannot be ignored'". LBC. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
  10. ^ "130 UK lawmakers seek Commonwealth solution to Hongkongers' plight". South China Morning Post. 9 September 2019. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
  11. ^ "UK rights group rep tells Junius Ho the bad news". Hong Kong Standard. 25 November 2019. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
  12. ^ "11th Consecutive Year as Tier 1 Country in TIP Report, the Ministry of Interior conducts workshops with industry to jointly combat forced labor". www.taipeitimes.com. 2 September 2020. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
  13. ^ "Luke de Pulford in Taiwan to discuss human trafficking". RTI Radio Taiwan International (in Chinese). Retrieved 31 January 2021.
  14. ^ Letters (7 September 2018). "Support the bill to help victims of modern slavery | Letters". the Guardian. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
  15. ^ "MPs unanimously declare Yazidis and Christians victims of Isis genocide". the Guardian. 20 April 2016. Retrieved 16 January 2021.
  16. ^ Timsit, Annabelle. "Luke de Pulford, the activist confronting his government on human rights". Quartz. Retrieved 18 May 2021.
  17. ^ "Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai 'pushed for sanctions with tabloid and Twitter'". South China Morning Post. 12 December 2020. Retrieved 16 January 2021.
  18. ^ "Hong Kong : le magnat prodémocratie Jimmy Lai inculpé en vertu de la loi sur la sécurité nationale". France 24 (in French). 12 December 2020. Retrieved 16 January 2021.
  19. ^ "StackPath". www.indcatholicnews.com. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
  20. ^ "Dopo gli Usa, anche il Regno Unito si muove a difesa degli uiguri. Ecco come". Formiche.net (in Italian). 20 January 2021. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
  21. ^ "Uighurs hail EU, UK steps toward holding China accountable". www.msn.com. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
  22. ^ "UK: Lords vote to bar trade deals with genocidal countries". ABC News. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
  23. ^ "UK sees off rebel MPs over 'genocide' amendment targeting China". POLITICO. 19 January 2021. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
  24. ^ "Hong Kong Watch Announces New Fellows Programme". Hong Kong Watch. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
  25. ^ "British policemen could face UK courts over Hong Kong torture claims". South China Morning Post. 10 August 2020. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
  26. ^ "IPAC, 5G Action Now: US, UK conservatives help lead efforts to counter Beijing". Intelligence Online. 22 July 2020. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
  27. ^ Bourke, Latika (15 December 2020). "In solidarity: Foreign ministers urged to back Australia in China spat". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
  28. ^ "POLITICO London Influence: China challenge — Special relationship latest — DIT 2.0". POLITICO. 28 January 2021. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
  29. ^ Koshino, Yuka (21 January 2021). "How Japan can help the U.K. meet its China challenge". The Japan Times. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
  30. ^ "The story behind the birth of a new Marian icon". Catholic Herald. 20 February 2020. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
  31. ^ "Pope blesses Walsingham 'Mary's Dowry' painting". The Tablet. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
  32. ^ "Twitter-Luke de Pulford 裴倫德". 17 May 2020.
  33. ^ "Twitter-Luke de Pulford 裴倫德". 18 May 2020.
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