Our Story
The Hong Kong Dignity Institute was founded in 2019 by public interest lawyer Patricia Ho. After championing social justice for marginalised populations for over 13 years, Patricia was tired of seeing her clients get lost in complex systems, all while bearing the weight of the abuse they had been victims of.
Through conversations with her clients and professionals from other disciplines in the field, the idea for Dignity Institute bloomed: a place that would provide holistic support for the most vulnerable in Hong Kong — while addressing deeper systemic problems. After 17 years of working in the public interest space in Hong Kong, Patricia remains fiercely hopeful that change is possible. With you, we bring about that change one client at a time, one day at a time.
Our Vision
Our Mission
Our Values
The restoration of dignity to the most vulnerable in Hong Kong and reformation of the systems of exploitation that perpetuate these abuses.
Under one roof, to provide actionable solutions to victims of exploitation, abuse, and discrimination through a professional, integrated and collaborative approach.
We are guided by principles of speaking up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of those who are destitute.
How do we help?
First, we address the immediate needs of our clients.
We give clients immediate strategic guidance, including legal and mental health support from qualified local professionals, to address their short- and long-term needs at one time in one space. Where needed, we collaborate and make referrals to the most relevant local and international organisations.
Then, we go deeper for systemic change.
Beyond assisting individuals, we endeavour to spark reforms of systems which perpetuate cycles of exploitation and which exacerbate trauma. For example, to reach and assist all 65,000 modern slaves in Hong Kong, we have a plan to inform law enforcement, policy-makers and legislators of the systemic constructs which enable traffickers to thrive.
Our plan? We conduct large-scale research and investigation to map the modus operandi of human trafficking in Hong Kong. We corroborate testimonies from our clients, other NGOs, and with evidence gathered through our first-hand investigations. After scrubbing this pooled information for reliability and legitimacy, we analyse the raw intel through an interdisciplinary lens. Our analysis names alleged perpetrators, unravels how they navigate Hong Kong’s legal and social systems, delineates specific trafficking routes and methods, and identifies the root causes of victimisation. Our findings are channeled into our training initiatives, and fed to the frontlines to achieve systemic change.
The vulnerable population in Hong Kong deserve the best the professional world can offer and we will offer no less.