Chen Chu (front, second left), chair of the National Human Rights Commission, is joined by officials at the Asia Pacific Forum’s annual general meeting and biennial conference held Sept. 20-21 in New Delhi, India. (Courtesy of NHRC)
 

The National Human Rights Commission participated for the first time in the annual general meeting and biennial conference of Australia-based Asia Pacific Forum Sept. 20-21 in New Delhi, underscoring the government’s commitment to working with like-minded partners to promote civil liberties, according to the NHRC.

The event celebrated the 30th anniversary of adopting the Paris Principles and the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, with Indian President Droupadi Murmu delivering the inaugural address. It comprised three sessions respectively on the last 30 years of human rights work in the region; advancing the UDHR and its promise of freedom, equality and justice for all; and the role of relevant institutions in mitigating the human rights impacts of climate change.

According to NHRC Chair Chen Chu, the commission has dedicated itself to ensuring Taiwan’s practices are in line with international norms since its establishment in 2020. In addition to independent recommendations proposed by the NHRC, in 2022 the government conducted a review of the local implementation of five codes: the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the Convention on the Rights of the Child, and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, she said, adding that global experts are invited to visit Taiwan to review the country’s national reports.

As the first country in Asia to legalize same-sex marriage, Taiwan is willing and able to share its democratic development and gender equality experiences, Chen said, adding that the government is eager to enhance exchanges with other countries and their national human rights institutions.

During the delegation members’ Sept. 19-23 stay in India, they also met with Kailash Satyarthi, co-recipient of the 2014 Nobel Peace Prize. They discussed the challenges of protecting children’s rights and exchanged views on rescue foundations and volunteer services.

Set up in 1996, the APF is made up of 26 national human rights institutions in the Asia-Pacific and offers comprehensive services to support members’ work in the field. (YCH-E)