President Tsai Ing-wen delivers opening remarks at a forum on Taiwan indigenous peoples’ rights Aug. 1 in Taipei City. (Courtesy of PO)
 

President Tsai Ing-wen attended a forum on indigenous peoples’ rights Aug. 1 in Taipei City, reiterating government commitment to the country’s original inhabitants and enhancing public awareness of their culture, history and languages.

Jointly organized by the Council of Indigenous Peoples and National Human Rights Commission to mark Taiwan’s Indigenous Peoples’ Day, the event was attended by Premier Su Tseng-chang, CIP Minister Icyang Parod and NHRC Chair Chen Chu, as well as representatives from the country’s 16 officially recognized tribes.

Other high-profile participants included Marshall Islands Amb. Neijon Rema Edwards, Nauru Amb. Jarden Kephas, Palau Amb. Dilmei Louisa Olkeriil and Tuvalu Amb. Bikenibeu Paeniu, as well as Australian Rep. Jenny Polyxeni Bloomfield, New Zealand Rep. Mark Pearson and Papua New Guinea Rep. Tommy Kunji.

According to Tsai, indigenous peoples’ rights are a key component of human rights protection, as specified in the U.N.’s International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, as well as Taiwan’s Indigenous Peoples’ Basic Law.

It is essential for both the government and all segments of society to protect and respect these members’ rights to cultural identity, history, land ownership and languages, the president added.

Tsai said great strides have been made in ensuring local tribal members’ rights, citing work started by the Presidential Office in 2016 to promote historical and transitional justice for these groups and the inauguration of the NHRC under the Control Yuan two years ago.

Other measures include the establishment of the country’s first indigenous radio station in 2017, provision of simultaneous interpretation in various indigenous languages at government meetings and a dedicated bill under legislative review on management of land reserved for indigenous peoples, she said.

According to the CIP, indigenous peoples have lived in Taiwan for millennia. Latest statistics reveal that the country’s indigenous population is around 575,000, or 2.4 percent of the total population of 23.19 million. (SFC-E)