Premier Su Tseng-chang (center) joins senior officials and human rights experts from overseas in giving the thumbs-up during the opening ceremony of an international review of Taiwan’s 3rd national report on U.N. human rights covenants May 9 in Taipei City. (Courtesy of Executive Yuan)
 

An international review of Taiwan’s third national report on the implementation of the U.N. International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights as well as International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights kicked off May 9 in Taipei City, underscoring the government’s commitment to safeguarding human rights.

According to the Ministry of Justice, the five-day event involves experts, officials and representatives of civil organizations from home and abroad, including participants from Austria, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Indonesia, Malaysia, New Zealand, South Korea and the Philippines who have been working with related U.N. agencies on the matter.

In his opening remarks, Premier Su Tseng-chang said tremendous progress has been made in human rights protection since the government promulgated an act to implement the two U.N. covenants in 2009.

Efforts to date encompass the release of national reports in 2012, 2016 and 2020, the establishment of the National Human Rights Commission in 2020 and the launch of the first National Human Rights Action Plan earlier this month, the premier added.

Echoing Su’s remarks, NHRC Chair Chen Chu said it is imperative for Taiwan to ensure human rights protection given its arduous democratization process. More international review meetings will take place later this year on the country’s implementation of U.N. covenants on the rights of the child and the disabled, as well as the elimination of discrimination against women, she added.

According to the MOJ, the government will follow up on all opinions and recommendations from the event to bring the country’s policymaking and practices more in line with global standards. (SFC-E)