Tsai praises Taiwan’s human rights progress at 40th FIDH Congress

2019/10/23

President Tsai Ing-wen said Oct. 21 that the government is leaving no stone unturned in promoting human rights and making Taiwan a more fair and just country.
 
 Safeguarding human rights remains a top priority for the government, Tsai said. Real progress has been achieved in removing job restrictions and eliminating discrimination against women in the workplace, as well as initiating judicial reform to create a legal system better reflecting the wishes of the people, she added.
 
 Tsai made the remarks while opening the 40th Congress of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) in Taipei City—the first time the triennial event has been staged in Asia. Co-organized by Taiwan Association for Human Rights, the five-day congress involves 450 participants discussing responses and strategies to emerging challenges in related areas.
 
 According to Tsai, the event is an outstanding venue for Taiwan to share its democratic journey while learning from other countries’ experiences. The country’s hosting of the congress is particularly meaningful as Taiwan became the first in Asia to legalize same-sex marriage in May, she said.
 
 Although Taiwan is not a member of the U.N., Tsai said, the government has incorporated many of the world body’s major human rights treaties into local laws so as to further entrench associated core concepts into the fabric of society.
 
 Tsai said the government will not budge an inch in ensuring human rights progress remains on the fast track, and has set up a unique voluntary assessment process involving academics from around the globe conducting reviews and communicating with civic groups and government agencies.
 
 Taiwan’s nongovernmental organizations also play a central role in this process, Tsai said, citing invaluable contributions in assisting the government improve protection of the peoples’ rights and public communication.
 
 Established in 1922 and headquartered in Paris, FIDH is an international NGO federating 184 member organizations from 112 countries and aims at defending civil, culture, economic, political and social rights as set out in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Source: Taiwan Today (https://taiwantoday.tw/index.php)