Premier Chen opens international review of ICERD national report in Taipei

2024/04/24

Premier Chen Chien-jen kicked off the international review of the first national report on the implementation of the U.N. International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD) April 22 in Taipei City, highlighting Taiwan’s commitment to ensuring the rights of all members of society.
 
Taiwan has codified six international human rights conventions into domestic law, Chen said, adding that the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons From Enforced Disappearance was passed by the Executive Yuan in February, while legislation for others, including the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families, are also underway.
 
According to Chen, the government has ramped up human rights protections in recent years, citing the establishment of the National Human Rights Commission under the Control Yuan in 2020 and the Executive Yuan’s launch of a department overseeing human rights and transitional justice in 2022.
 
The premier added that the EY department released the National Human Rights Action Plan later the same year, which focused on digital human rights, equality and nondiscrimination, housing justice and refugee rights.
 
Although Taiwan is not a member of the U.N., it attaches just as much importance to human rights as any other country, as evidenced by it being the first country in Asia to legalize same-sex marriage, Chen said. The country’s adoption of the international review mechanism demonstrates its determination to actively participate in global human rights affairs, he added.
 
Chen said members of the international review committee will exchange views with representatives from the public and private sectors and extend recommendations during the two-day event, requesting that relevant ministries and agencies incorporate the suggestions into policy adjustments and future legislation.
 
According to the EY, attendees include NHRC Chair Chen Chu; Ambassadors of Haiti, St. Kitts and Nevis, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines to Taiwan; as well as officials from the Belgium Office in Taipei and the commercial offices of the Sultanate of Oman and New Zealand.


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