President Tsai Ing-wen said Nov. 20 that the Republic of China (Taiwan) government is committed to safeguarding human rights and will continue to work with local and international partners in strengthening implementation of the U.N. Convention on the Rights of the Child.
 
Protecting the rights and dignity of children is of upmost importance in Taiwan society, the president said, adding that the government is prioritizing efforts to help disadvantaged young people achieve their full potential.
 
Tsai made the remarks at the opening of a five-day review of Taiwan’s first national implementation report on the CRC. The eight-chapter document listing efforts to recognize and adopt children’s rights measures was published Nov. 17, 2016, by the Ministry of Health and Welfare.
 
A delegation of five international experts, headed by Jakob Egbert Doek, former chair of the U.N. Committee on the Rights of the Child, will hold discussions with local officials, nongovernmental organizations and children during the review. At the conclusion, the panel will present a list of recommendations to the government.
 
According to Tsai, though not a member of the U.N., Taiwan has incorporated five covenants into domestic law, including the Implementation Act of the CRC in November 2014. By taking the initiative to integrate the conventions and stage reviews, the country has underscored its commitment to working with the international community in defending and promoting human rights, she said.
 
The president expressed appreciation to the foreign and domestic participants in the evaluation process, stating that their involvement will help further strengthen children’s rights regulations.
 
Also speaking at the opening ceremony, Doek praised initiatives by the government and local NGOs as demonstrating an impressive interest and dedication to implementing protection measures. “There is no doubt in my mind that we are here in a country where we have partners in our efforts to respect and protect the rights of children,” he said.
 
Doek added that he looks forward to engaging in constructive discussions spanning a broad spectrum of children’s rights issues including education, health care and juvenile justice. (KWS-E)