On July 12, 2022, in an endeavor to strengthen cooperation and exchanges between Taiwan and France on human rights issues, a joint declaration was signed by Chen Chu, Chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission of Taiwan, and Jean-François Casabonne-Masonnave, Director of the French Office in Taipei.
Chen said that like the French Revolution, Taiwan has undergone a successful transformation from authoritarianism into a free and pluralistic democracy, thanks to the all-out effort of the Taiwanese people. The universal values of liberty, equality and fraternity shared by Taiwan and France, in addition to both countries’ resolution to safeguard democracy and human rights, have laid the foundations for this cooperation. Since human rights are universal values that transcend national boundaries, Taiwan looks forward to widening cooperation and exchanging information and experiences with France on international/regional human rights and civil society issues, she added.
On the part of France, Casabonne-Masonnave noted that the rise of unilateralism that has profoundly impacted universal values, as well as the lessons drawn from the Russia-Ukraine war, are clear proofs of the significance of international cooperation. He regarded Taiwan as an important partner of France in its promotion of human rights in the Indo-Pacific region, taking the two visits of the French Ambassador for Human Rights to Taiwan as an example of the close and dynamic cooperation underway. Casabonne-Masonnave expressed hope that France and Taiwan could learn from and share with each other on human rights issues. He also looks forward to promoting multilateral dialogue and cooperation among human rights institutions in Taiwan, France and other European countries in the future.
The attendees of the signing ceremony included Pierre Goulange, Head of Political Affairs, Press and Communication Section of the French Office in Taipei, Jao Yung-ching, Vice Chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission of Taiwan, Wang Jung-chang, Tien Chiu-chin, Yeh Ta-hua, Chi Hui-jung, and Fan Sun-lu, Members of the National Human Rights Commission of Taiwan, Liu Chin-hsin, Human Rights Consultant of the National Human Rights Commission of Taiwan, Lee Hung-chun, Vice President of the Control Yuan, Pu Chung-cheng, Member of the Control Yuan, Ju Fu-meei, Secretary General of the Control Yuan. Yui Tah-ray, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, also attended the ceremony to witness the major milestone in human rights cooperation between Taiwan and France.