Today (8th), a delegation headed by Kristo Enn Vaga, Chair of the Estonian Parliament’s Estonia-Taiwan Friendship Group, paid a visit to Taiwan’s National Human Rights Commission (NHRC). They were warmly welcomed by NHRC Chairperson Chen Chu. The discussions between the two parties revolved around their historical battles against authoritarianism, the importance of human rights education, freedom of speech, and internet human rights.
Chairperson Chen Chu expressed her appreciation for the Estonian delegation’s visit, highlighting the shared domestic values of Taiwan and Estonia as they both strive for peace in the face of authoritarian threats.
Chairperson Chen reflected on Taiwan’s past—marked by 38 years of martial law—as a challenging era for human rights. Nevertheless, Taiwan’s dedication to democracy ultimately triumphed, earning it a prominent position in the global human rights ranking, especially in regards to women’s rights and gender equality. She pointed out the significance of Tsai Ing-wen’s election as Taiwan’s first female president in 2016, her re-election in 2020, and her commitment to safeguarding Taiwan’s democracy against military and political pressures from China while promoting reforms and transitional justice. Chen also commended Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas for her leadership in supporting Ukraine amid the Russian invasion.
Chairperson Chen highlighted that Taiwan made history in 2019 by becoming the first Asian nation to legalize same-sex marriage, with Estonia following suit in 2023 as the first Baltic and former Soviet state to do the same.
Kristo Enn Vaga began his remarks by celebrating International Women’s Day for the women of Taiwan. He pointed out that this week also marks Taiwan’s Gender Equality Week, showcasing the country’s strong commitment to equality. He noted the shared values between Taiwan and Estonia and expressed optimism for stronger collaboration and exchange.
Chairperson Chen mentioned the global freedom rankings published by Freedom House, noting that Taiwan scored 94 while Estonia achieved a score of 95. In terms of internet freedom, Taiwan earned a score of 78, whereas Estonia stood out with an impressive score of 93, placing it second globally. Estonia's advanced digital infrastructure enables 99% of its public services to be accessed online, establishing it as a frontrunner in internet security. Chen expressed her enthusiasm for Taiwan to learn from Estonia's progress in this area.
Kristo Enn Vaga responded by stressing that in Estonia, internet access is regarded as a fundamental right, with 99% of government services accessible online. He highlighted the significance of transparency in governance and the necessity of freedom of expression, pointing out that public trust is essential for upholding human rights. Nonetheless, Estonia faces the challenge of balancing free speech with the need to restrict hate speech and tackle misinformation. He expressed a desire for enhanced collaboration with Taiwan to address these pressing issues.
The discussions between both parties continued, delving into a number of subjects, including Taiwan’s progress in human rights, education related to human rights, freedom of speech, and internet human rights. Chairperson Chen conveyed optimism for future visits and exchanges involving Estonian human rights experts and national human rights institutions.
The delegation was accompanied by NHRC Vice Chairperson Tsai Chung-yi, Commissioners Wang Jung-chang, Wang Yu-ling, Tien Chiu-chin, Chi Hui-jung, and Kao Yung-cheng.