Charles Hector (full name Charles Hector Fernandez, born in Temerloh on 4 July 1961) is a Malaysian Human Rights advocate and activist.
His primary schooling was in Sekolah Rendah Jalan Bahagia, Temerloh. His lower secondary educadion was in Sekolah Menengah Rendah Jalan Bahagia (Form 1-3), and thereafter Sekolah Menengah Abu Bakar (Form 4-5). He then continued his upper secondary education in Sekolah Sultan Abu Bakar, Kuantan, Pahang during which he also held the position of President of the Sixth Form Society.
After that, he was admitted to University of Malaya, where he pursued a Bachelors Degree in Science (Genetics). He was elected into the University of Malaya Students Union, and held the position of Welfare Secretary.He was also a founder member of the Social Service Club (Persatuan Perkhidmatan Masyarakat) - an initiative of unifying students irrespective of racial, religious and political differences.
After graduation he worked with the National Office for Human Development, then SUARAM and thereafter has been a lawyer. In 1993, he was instrumental in developing and getting "The Malaysian Human Rights Charter" which was by adopted by some 50 NGOS in 1993.
He was instrumental in developing the Malaysian Bar Legal Aid Dock-Brief programme. The Dock Brief programme was developed to ensure that all those brought to court to be charged, who do not yet have a lawyer, do receive free legal advice and legal representation. If the accused plead guilty, they will be assisted with regards to mitigation. And if they do claim trial, then they will be assisted with regard to bail applications.
Charles Hector, in his second attempt, was elected a member of the Bar Council 2005/2006. He was the Chairman of the committee for the elimination of discrimination 2005 - 2007.
Charles Hector is also one of the coordinators of the Malaysians Against Death Penalty & Torture (MADPET) together with N. Surendran and Salbiah Ahmad. MADPET is also currently a member of ADPAN.
Charles Hector was also in the secretariat for the Campaign for the release of about 106 persons who were arrested under the Internal Security Act (Malaysia) in October 1987 known as Operation Lalang, and also the campaign for release of those arrested in Singapore under Operation Spectrum.
Charles Hector was involved in the development of, whereby he was also the 2nd coordinator after Julian Jeyaseelan.
He is also founder member of the Society for Christian Reflection (SCR) and Pusat KOMAS. He was also the treasurer of the National Human Rights Society(HAKAM)for four years. He is also a member of JUST and ALIRAN
Charles Hector was also involved in the production of the 1st Human Rights Education Pack (HRE Pack) for the Asia-Pacific region, which was published be the Asia-Pacific Regional Resource Center for Human Rights Education (ARRC) in 1995. Charles Hector was also a Council member of ARRC.
On 14/2/2011, Charles Hector was sued for RM10 million (USD3.2 million) by a Japanese MNC, Asahi Kosei, in Malaysia for highlighting alleged human rights violations affecting some 30 Burmese migrant workers who were workers at the said company's factories. Asahi Kosei says that it is not responsible for these workers and all that happened to them by reason that these workers were not their 'employees' - but were workers supplied by an 'outsourcing agent'(a labour/manpower supplier). The threat and the suit against this Human Rights Defender resulted in great protest from all quarters, both nationally and internationally. This issue was also raised in the UK Parliament, and the trial was closely monitored by the European Unions and many other countries. On 25/8/2011, the case was settled. Charles Hector was also nominated for the inaugural SUHAKAM's Human Rights Award in 2011.