On November 18th, the National Human Rights Commission (hereafter, NHRC) held an exchange meeting and welcomed the members of the International Review Committee (hereafter, IRC) for Taiwan’s second state report on the government’s compliance with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (hereafter, UNCRC). Members of the IRC attending the conversation are experts devoted to children’s rights protection, including Jakob Egbert Doek (the Netherlands), Nigel Cantwell from (United Kingdom), Laura Lundy (Ireland), and Nevena Vuckovic Sahovic (Serbia).
In her welcome speech, Chen Chu, the Chairperson of the NHRC, expressed her gratitude for the opportunity to have an in-person dialogue during the intensive state report review sessions, as well as for the recommendations offered by the IRC addressing the NHRC’s mandate. Chen Chu suggested that the NHRC supports the IRC’s recommendation for establishing a children’s rights mechanism in line with the UNCRC Committee’s General Comment No. 2, whether it locates within the NHRC or is enabled as a separate unit dedicated to children's rights. As stated in the NHRC’s independent opinion, the NHRC recommends that the government and the Legislative Yuan refer to the Act to Implement the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and amend the Implementation Act of the Convention on the Rights of the Child to specify the mandate of children’s rights monitoring.
In addition, Chen Chu mentioned that the legal frameworks and strategies proposed by the NHRC, particularly those related to addressing human rights violations, have undergone a thoughtful development process through consulting experts and studying practices of foreign human rights institutions.
Regarding the recommendation for handling complaints filed by children to protect and promote children’s rights, Chen Chu stated that the NHRC has drawn up National Human Rights Commission Complaint Rules to handle complaints concerning human rights violations and provide remedies according to the law.
Chen Chu also specifically introduced two research projects currently conducted by the NHRC seeking to systematically inquire: (1) how migrant workers raise their children in foreign countries (the issue of undocumented children) and (2) issues of child sexual abuse in institutional settings (including schools and institutional placements). Through a systemic approach, the NHRC hopes to examine the current gaps in human rights protection and provide concrete recommendations for improving policies and practices.
Chen Chu stressed that the NHRC would work with different sectors to identify obstacles in realizing human rights and seek solutions. The NHRC envisions that issues of children’s rights do not cease at the protection phase but move forward to change the paternalistic culture that undermines respect for children and, in doing so, realize children’s right to development, participation, and have their best interest taken as primary consideration.
Pleased to learn about the NHRC’s active investigation of human rights violations, Jakob Egbert Doek, the Chair of the IRC, commended the NHRC’s approach that perceives children as subjects of their rights rather than objects to be protected. He further addressed the NHRC’s mandate, suggesting that the NHRC should have the power to investigate private sectors whenever they are involved in suspected human rights violations. Doek emphasized that the UNCRC committee has made a general comment on this issue due to increasing awareness in the past decade regarding the obligations of private companies and institutions to comply with human rights standards and the need for relevant monitoring mechanisms.
Members of the NHRC attending the conversation include Yeh Ta-hua, Tien Chiu-chin, Wang Yu-ling, Chi Hui-jung, Upay Radiw Kanasaw, Su Li-chiung, Lai Chen-chang. Fan Sun-lu, a member of the Control Yuan, also participated in the event. Participants had a lively and fruitful discussion on how to promote the implementation of the UNCRC.