Ma presents TFD award to Shakti Samuha

2015/12/14

President Ma Ying-jeou presented the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy’s Asia Democracy and Human Rights Award to Kathmandu-based Shakti Samuha Dec. 10, praising the organization for its humanitarian work in Nepal.

“Shakti Samuha is a champion in safeguarding those at risk of human trafficking in the South Asian nation,” Ma said. “Its globally recognized efforts also won the organization the prestigious Ramon Magsaysay Award in 2013.

“In honoring Shakti Samuha for sheltering female human trafficking survivors, the TFD award underscores Taiwan’s commitment to promoting democracy and human rights protection.”

The president made the remarks while handing over the award and a grant of US$100,000 to Shakti Samuha President Sunita Danuwar in Taipei City.

Coinciding with International Human Rights Day, the ceremony was attended by Wang Jin-pyng, TFD chairman and ROC Legislative Yuan president, Chien Tai-lang, secretary-general of the Executive Yuan, and members of the Taiwan-based diplomatic corps.

Concerning the development of human rights in Taiwan, Ma said the country has made tremendous headway. This is evidenced by the ratification in 2009 of the U.N. International Covenants on Civil and Political Rights and Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.

In addition, two local laws implementing the U.N. Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and Convention on the Rights of the Child were promulgated in 2012 and 2014, respectively, Ma said. “Through these efforts, the number of underage victims of sexual abuse and exploitation decreased 26 percent annually since I took office in May 2008.”

Efforts by the government in combating human trafficking are also highly recognized by the global community, Ma added, citing Taiwan’s Tier 1 ranking for the sixth consecutive year in the Trafficking in Persons Report published by the U.S. Department of State in July this year.

In response, Danuwar said the award acknowledges her organization’s dedication to saving those preyed upon by human traffickers, as well as significant support from the international community for survivors.

A former victim of human trafficking, Danuwar established Shakti Samuha in 1996 to provide counseling, legal aid, shelter and vocational training to girls and women rescued from slavery. It is the first nongovernmental organization of its kind in Nepal and remains at the vanguard of the fight to end a scourge plaguing the region.

Source: Taiwan Today (http://taiwantoday.tw/ct.asp?xItem=240046&ctNode=2194&mp=9)