Taiwan, EU stage seventh human rights consultations

2025/03/11

The seventh edition of the annual Taiwan-EU Human Rights Consultations took place March 5 in Taipei City, highlighting the two sides’ commitment to boosting exchanges and advancing global human rights, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said March 7.
 
The one-day event was jointly chaired by Minister without Portfolio Lin Ming-hsin and Nicoletta Pusterla, deputy head of the European External Action Service’s Division for China, Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan and Mongolia, the MOFA added.
 
According to the ministry, the two sides reviewed recent developments and gave briefings on their respective policies and action priorities during the event. Taiwan shared updates on its response to Constitutional Court Judgment No. 8, 2024, relating to the death penalty and outlined progress on several action plans, including the National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights, while stressing transparency and civic participation, the MOFA said.
 
The EU presented its Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive, among other initiatives, the MOFA said, adding that the two sides reiterated their commitment to safeguarding human rights, democracy and the rule of law.
 
According to the MOFA, Taiwan and EU also discussed specific issues such as the need to promote and protect the rights of migrant workers. Gender equality and the rights of older adults were also covered during the consultations, the ministry said, adding that the two sides reviewed the achievements of the EU-Taiwan Gender Equality Cooperation and Training Framework and shared their long-term care policies and measures to ensure economic security and social participation for senior citizens.
 
In addition, during a working lunch hosted by Lin and Deputy Foreign Minister François Chih-chung Wu, the like-minded partners addressed digital human rights and education. Taiwan shared its draft Artificial Intelligence Basic Act, the EU outlined its Digital Services Act and the two sides discussed establishing a framework for Taiwan-EU human rights education cooperation.
 
Taiwan will continue aligning its human rights standards with international norms, the MOFA said, adding that the ministry will continue strengthening the country’s relationship with the EU to jointly uplift the international community.


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