ABOUT CCRA
Chinese Civic Rights Alliance (CCRA)
CCRA is an independent charitable non-profit organization founded in 2016 and headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland.
We are strictly non-profit, non-political, and non-commercial. Our sole mission is to monitor, document, and advocate for the human rights, freedom of expression, and fundamental civil liberties of Chinese communities around the world.
We do not represent any government, nor do we engage in individual casework, litigation, or partisan politics. Our only constituency is ordinary Chinese people and their families living outside China—wherever they may be—who deserve dignity, safety, and the right to speak freely.
Through independent research, evidence-based reporting, international advocacy, and constructive policy dialogue, CCRA amplifies silenced voices, draws attention to overlooked injustices, and works toward the long-term protection of civil rights for global Chinese communities.
We believe: Human rights have no borders. Charity begins with truth.
Meet Our Team
Minghao Li, Executive Director
Minghao Li co-founded CCRA in 2016 and has served as Executive Director since its inception. He holds a Master’s degree in International Relations from the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in Geneva, Switzerland. Prior to CCRA, he worked for 2 years at Amnesty International, coordinating human rights projects focused on Asia. Earlier in his career, he was involved with grassroots NGOs in mainland China advocating for freedom of expression, before relocating to Switzerland due to increasing political pressure. Under his leadership, CCRA has published numerous reports on the human rights situation of overseas Chinese communities and has engaged with the UN Human Rights Council to promote global dialogue.
Ashely Wang, Research Director
Wang joined CCRA in 2018 and oversees all research initiatives. She holds a PhD in Human Rights Law from University College London (UCL), UK. Before moving to Europe, she served as an Assistant Professor at the University of Hong Kong, where she researched civil rights dynamics in Asia. She also spent 5 years at an international think tank specializing in data-driven analysis and report writing. Dr. Wang has led the production of over 20 annual and thematic reports covering freedom of expression, digital rights, and civil liberties among global Chinese communities. She is a frequent speaker at international conferences, advocating for evidence-based human rights policy.
Thomas Keller, Legal Advisor
Thomas Keller joined CCRA in 2017 and provides legal guidance and strategic support to the organization. A native of Zurich, he earned his law degree (lic. iur.) from the University of Zurich and later completed an LL.M. in International Human Rights Law at the University of Geneva. With over 12 years of experience, he previously worked as a senior associate at a Zurich-based law firm specializing in international law, asylum, and human rights cases, and served as legal counsel for a Swiss NGO focused on refugee and migrant rights in Europe. At CCRA, his role centers on ensuring organizational compliance with Swiss and international standards, offering analysis of relevant treaties and conventions, and preparing submissions to bodies such as the European Court of Human Rights or UN mechanisms. He does not represent individuals in legal proceedings.