On May 13, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) hosted the first “Exchange Meeting between the NHRC and the International Review Committee for Taiwan’s Third National Report under the ICCPR and ICESCR.” The exchange meeting invited members of the international review committee to offer their recommendations on the functions and operations of the NHRC and asked them to share their experience on how to supervise the government in order to improve the protection of human rights and continue to make progress to advance human rights in Taiwan.
In her speech, NHRC Chairperson Chen Chu stated that this was the first time that the NHRC has met with the international review committee for the third national report under the ICCPR and ICESR. The COVID-19 pandemic is not yet over but the pace of progress in human rights will not be slowed. Chen thanked the members of the reviewing committee for overcoming all obstacles to engage in a meaningful, in-depth dialogue with the NHRC and offering their valuable experience in human rights activities. Chen expressed her hopes that the NHRC, with human rights protection and promotion as its objectives, can put the international human rights conventions into practice and work towards becoming a national human rights institution in the spirit of the Paris Principles.
The exchange meeting participants included Manfred Nowak (Chair of the ICCPR Panel for reviewing Taiwan’s third national report), Eibe Riedel (Chair of the ICESCR Panel for reviewing Taiwan’s third national report), their fellow committee members Shanthi Dairiam, Peer Lorenzen, Rukka Sombolinggi, William Anthony Schabas, Virginia Bonoan-Dandan, Heisoo Shin, Rosslyn Noonan, as well as all NHRC commissioners and human rights consultants.
NHRC Chair Chen Chu said that NHRC commissioners were selected from members of the public. A nomination review committee made up of Control Yuan members is organized by the Office of the President to review nominations for representatives from all segments of society. A list of recommended candidates is then provided to the President. The representatives for women, children, persons with disabilities, indigenous peoples, laborers, and the judiciary are then handpicked by the President and submitted to the Legislative Yuan for confirmation. The role of the NHRC is to not only serve as a bridge between the people and the government but to also advocate on behalf of the people. As Taiwan is not a member of the United Nations at present, therefore, we cannot submit our signature or ratification with the United Nations in accordance with the provisions of the conventions. Nevertheless, Taiwan will continue to work toward the domestication of key international human rights conventions as human rights is a universal value. The NHRC also issued its independent opinion and opinion on the topics involved in the third national report under the ICCPR and ICESR to the government in 2020.
Manfred Nowak, the Chair of the ICCPR Panel, said that Taiwan's establishment of the NHRC was lauded by the international review committee. Nowak also hoped that the NHRC could be a diverse and fully independent institution in order to fulfill its obligations under the Two Covenants and the recommendations of the reviewing committee. In particular, Nowak hoped that the NHRC could assist the government with implementing international conventions on banning torture, protecting migrant workers and refugees, and preventing forced disappearances. While real-world factors preclude the signing of these conventions as a member state, Nowak suggested implementing the conventions through unilateral acceptance of their jurisdiction so that human rights protection in Taiwan could be brought up to UN and international standards.
Eibe Riedel, the Chair of the ICESCR Panel, noted that he was delighted to read the independent opinion issued by the NHRC. Riedel felt that the opinion demonstrated a keen sense of justice. Riedel looked forward to seeing the NHRC adopt an even more proactive approach to supervising the competent authorities and pushing for the implementation of international human rights law across the board.