ROC works to implement international covenants

2015/12/22

The ROC government is committed to domesticating international covenants in accordance with the Constitution, according to Presidential Office spokesman Charles Chen Dec. 20.

“As per Article 141 of the Constitution, the ROC is a country that respects treaties and the U.N. Charter in order to promote international cooperation, advance international justice and ensure world peace,” Chen said.

Since President Ma Ying-jeou took office in May 2008, significant progress has been made in this regard, according to Chen. “This includes ratification in 2009 of the U.N. International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights,” he said.

“Earlier the same year, the Legislature also passed an act implementing the two covenants, underscoring the nation’s commitment to protecting human rights,” Chen said, adding that other achievements in this regard include promulgation of the Enforcement Act of Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women in 2011, as well as the Implementation Act of the Convention on the Rights of the Child in 2014.

The spokesman’s remarks follow a provisional act governing the implementation of multilateral covenants proposed by Chinese (Taiwan) Society of International Law during its annual assembly held the same day in Taipei City.

CSIL urged enactment of its version of the bill when the Legislature resumes in February so as to ensure the country’s legal framework continues evolving in line with global standards.

“Discrepancies between domestic and international laws have a huge impact on Taiwan’s long-term development and run counter to the national goal of becoming a regional hub,” a CSIL representative said.

Although CSIL commended the Ma administration for implementing six major international covenants since 2008, it said even more could be accomplished via a dedicated act as there are 500-plus important international covenants awaiting domestication.

“Such an institutionalized mechanism would send a strong message that Taiwan is serious about standing shoulder to shoulder with other leading countries when it comes to fostering a standardized international legal system,” the representative added.

Source: Taiwan Today (http://taiwantoday.tw/ct.asp?xItem=240446&ctNode=2194&mp=9)