The International Review Committee (hereafter IRC) was invited by the National Human Rights Commission (hereafter NHRC) to Taiwan on the 26th and 27th to visit indigenous communities and have discussions about the Initial National Report on the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD). During the symposium on the 26th, Chairperson Chen Chu stated that Taiwan follows the United Nations (hereafter UN) review model for reviewing international human rights conventions. In light of the IRC's submission of its 89 Concluding Observations, the NHRC will unquestionably take on the duty of monitoring and encouraging the government's implementation of the ICERD while simultaneously working to ensure compliance with global human rights norms.
This visit by the IRC members to Taiwan consists of experts with extensive experience working for the UN to protect human rights. Among them are Manfred Nowak, the former UN Special Rapporteur on Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment; Rosslyn Noonan, the former Chairperson of the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions; Sheryl Lightfoot, the UN Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples expert; and Keiko Ko, the former member of the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.
In response to the parts of the Concluding Observations pertaining to the NHRC, Chairperson Chen Chu stated that the commission has set up a procedure for managing complaints pertaining to human rights. It is currently being reviewed and amended with regard to of actual implementation. The Commission has published a Medium-Term Strategic Plan following discussions and consultations with both local and international non-governmental organizations. Important ICERD issues such as indigenous rights, judicial interpretation systems, mainstreaming ethnic groups, and domestic workers are all included in this plan. Due to the expiration of the Legislative Yuan's term, the Control Act Amendment involving the exercise of the commission's powers will be resubmitted for legislative review.
Chairperson Chen Chu stated that the Commission had held four consultations, three institutional discussions, and expert scholar meetings in order to formulate the NHRC Independent Opinions of ICERD's Initial National Report. These discussions covered a range of important rights issues, including those pertaining to migrant workers, new immigrants, Hakka ethnic groups, Plains indigenous groups, and Hokkien groups. Additionally, the Commission visited Hualien tribes to exchange perspectives with tribal representatives.
Chairperson Chen Chu also stated that the Commission plans to hold regular dialogues with non-governmental organizations in early May to extensively solicit opinions. In the future, there will also be active communication with the Executive and Legislative Yuan regarding the staffing and relevant bills on functions and powers of the NHRC.
In his remarks, IRC Chairperson Nowak reaffirmed the opinions of the NHRC's Independent Opinios. In addition, he disclosed that during his time as the UN Special Rapporteur on the Committee against Torture, he frequently observed instances of human rights abuses or deprivation of liberty in settings like child placement facilities and detention centers. He therefore hopes Taiwan can ratify the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment as soon as possible.
During the symposium, the IRC also exchanged views on issues such as domestic workers, migrant fishers, and hate speech against indigenous peoples. The NHRC Commissioners Tsai, Chung-Yi, Upay Radiw Kanasaw, Wang Yu-ling, Pu, Chung-Cheng, Kao Yung-cheng, Yeh Ta-hua, Tien Chiu-chin, Chi Hui-jung, and the Control Yuan Member Su, Li-chiung were among those attending the symposium. They discussed significant ICERD issues and the direction of the commission's work.
The NHRC extended an invitation to the IRC on the 27th to visit Pingtung and have in-depth conversations on significant indigenous rights issues like the right to self-determination, the right to consultation and consent, the right to health, the right to hunt, the right to animal conservation, and the right to cultural rights with representatives of indigenous experts and scholars from the National Dong Hwa University, including Professor Chung-shan Shih, Professor AWI MONA, Professor Kao Te-yi, Associate Professor Chen Chang, Pei-Lun, Associate Professor Hung-Yu Ru, and Associate Professor Tjangkus Pasaljig. Furthermore, they went to Sandimen Township's indigenous communities to converse with tribal elders and emerging artists in order to obtain a practical grasp of the experiences related to indigenous cultural heritage.