Nov. 11, 2020: Human rights leap forward, implement human rights to build the country and integrate with international standards

The Ministry of Justice explained that the critical tasks of the human rights business this year are to propose the Mandarin and English versions of the Third National Report of International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (after this referred as to ICCPR) and International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (after this referred as to ICESCR) and launch the preparatory work for the third international review of the National Report. MOJ has also started writing Taiwan’s first National Human Rights Action Plan.

The Minister of Justice, Tsai Ching-Hsiang, appreciated the cooperation of various governmental agencies and non-governmental organizations for submitting the third National Report as scheduled. The Minister also addressed that the Report is presented by a group of heroes behind the scenes. This working group composed of enthusiastic members, human rights scholars, and experts from the Gender Equality Committee of the Executive Yuan, the Child and Youth Welfare and Rights Promotion Group of the Executive Yuan, and the Disabled Rights Promotion Group of the Executive Yuan, etc. In limited time, they worked selflessly and intensively and participated in 31 different events. These people served as a communication bridge between governmental agencies and non-governmental organizations, assisting in drafting the Report content direction and worked around-the-clock to simplify the detailed information provided by the various agencies.

After 34 re-editing and finalizing meetings, MOJ finally completed the Report on time. Next, MOJ will initiate a series of pre-work relates to international reviews. Besides, MOJ was assigned by the Executive Yuan to serve as the staffing agency of the "Consultative Committee for the Development of the National Human Rights Action Plan" and has assisted in completing the preparation of the "Consultative Committee for the Development of the National Human Rights Action Plan."

The advisory committee has been in operation since February of this year. It has collected opinions from range of individuals and reached a consensus on the National Human Rights Action Plan's content to meet the expectations of different sectors so that our country’s human rights policy will take another big step forward. Based on the government's integration, MOJ has actively promoted various human rights policies to implement human rights protection. After the First National Report in 2012, the Second National Report in 2016, and the international review's completion in 2017, the pre-work for the international review of the Third National Report is now initiated. MOJ is also assisting with the planning matters set up by the National Human Rights Commission of the Control Yuan, formulating and implementing the Enforcement Act of Interpretation No. 768 of the Constitutional Court to promote equal rights in marriage. Following Interpretation No. 791 of Constitution, we conduct research and revision of the crime of adultery to comply with Article 17 of ICCPR, prohibiting the infringement of people’s right to privacy.

The "Should Taiwan develop a comprehensive Discrimination Law and Legislative Proposals” proposal has been completed, and public opinions are collected to develop relevant equality law draft. MOJ further considers adding the “crime of torture” to the criminal law to satisfy the connotation of the United Nations Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.

The determination of the Taiwan government and people to comply with relevant international human rights obligations has enabled human rights to leap forward in Taiwan and to be in line with international standards.