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United States John Kamm has transitioned from businessman to human rights activist, developing a dialogue-based approach to secure clemency and better treatment for prisoners in China.
John Kamm has designed and implemented an original approach to freeing prisoners of conscience in China by leveraging business relationships, leading to him receiving a MacArthur Fellowship.
John Kamm founded The Dui Hua Foundation (对话, meaning “dialogue” in Chinese) in April 1999. The organization promotes human rights in China through dialogue, having helped secure clemency and better treatment for hundreds of prisoners.
John Kamm founded his own consulting business in 1991 to dedicate more time to his human rights activities, eventually establishing The Dui Hua Foundation (Dui Hua).
Kamm's own experience has convinced him that businesses can speak out for human rights and, if they do it right, not put their profits at risk.
American businessman John Kamm made it a second career, having spent 16 years helping to free scores of Chinese political prisoners.
John Kamm, an American businessman whose international business savvy and trusted relationships with Chinese officials won the release of numerous prisoners, delivered the O'Grady Asia Lecture.
John Kamm addressed the US-China Catholic Association to speak about Dui Hua’s work on religious freedom.
John Kamm spoke to San Francisco University Club members about President Biden’s posture towards China and the relationship between business and human rights.
John Kamm addressed members of Trinity-by-the-Cove Episcopal Church in an outreach event centered around religion.
John Kamm addressed members of the Young Presidents Organization (YPO), briefing young executives on how business strategies can apply to human rights work.
John Kamm is an American businessman and human rights campaigner who has been active in China since 1972. He holds a BA from Princeton University (1972) and an MA from Harvard University (1975). Early in his career, Kamm served as the Hong Kong correspondent and representative of the National Council for US-China Trade from 1975 to 1979. He also managed business operations for Occidental Chemical Corporation in China and East Asia from 1981 to 1991. Demonstrating his early commitment to human rights, he served as President of the American Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong in 1990, where he successfully advocated for a resolution condemning China’s suppression of the Tiananmen Square protests.
Since his initial intervention on behalf of a Chinese prisoner in May 1990, Kamm has dedicated his efforts to human rights advocacy. He made over 100 trips to China for dialogue on human rights, specifically focusing on prisoner treatment and prison conditions. His work involves submitting requests for information on numerous prisoners and visiting Chinese prisons. In 1999, he founded The Dui Hua Foundation, a nonprofit humanitarian organization focused on promoting universal human rights in China through informed and respectful dialogue. The foundation works to secure clemency and improved treatment for prisoners detained for nonviolent expression of their rights.
Kamm’s unique approach has been widely recognized. He was awarded the Department of Commerce’s Best Global Practices Award by President Bill Clinton in 1997 and the Eleanor Roosevelt Award for Human Rights by President George W. Bush in 2001. In September 2004, he received a MacArthur Fellowship for his original method of freeing prisoners of conscience in China, becoming the first businessman to earn this distinction. His work extends to various topics, including juvenile justice reform, women in prison, and criminal justice reform. He continues to engage with officials, experts, and scholars globally and has testified before the US Congress on human rights issues.
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