New Southbound Policy Portal

Taiwan attended the Ministerial to Advance Religious Freedom hosted by the U.S. Department of State July 16-18 in Washington, spotlighting the country’s commitment to working with like-minded partners in advancing human rights around the world.
 
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Taiwan was represented by Stanley Kao, head of Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the U.S., and Ambassador-at-Large for Religious Freedom Pusin Tali.
 
The pair highlighted the nation’s successful experiences in safeguarding the rights and freedom of followers of all faiths. They also exchanged ideas on promoting shared values and combating religious intolerance and discrimination, the ministry added.
 
Taiwan plays a leading international role in such efforts, the MOFA said, citing the Regional Religious Freedom Forum: A Civil Society Dialogue on Securing Religious Freedom in the Indo-Pacific Region staged during March in Taipei City.
 
Organized by Taiwan Foundation for Democracy, the event was the first of its kind in the region and featured academics, experts and officials from more than 10 countries, including U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom Sam Brownback.
 
During the two-day forum, the government pledged to contribute US$1 million over five years to the U.S. Department of State’s International Religious Freedom Fund to support individuals or organizations facing discrimination on the basis of religious beliefs. (SFC-E)
 
Write to Taiwan Today at ttonline@mofa.gov.tw