TAIPEI, July 16, 2025 – The National Human Rights Commission of Taiwan (NHRC) yesterday successfully hosted the “2025 Human Rights in Asia: A Multigenerational Dialogue,” reinforcing Taiwan’s role as a vital hub for democratic exchange in the Asia-Pacific. The event brought together over 100 distinguished guests, including representatives from domestic and international think tanks, civil society organizations, and media, for a dynamic dialogue with 45 exceptional young leaders from 16 nations participating in the 2025 Southeast Asia-South Asia-Taiwan (SEASAT) Youth Camp.
The forum, co-organized with the Taiwan-Asia Exchange Foundation (TAEF), provided a critical platform to address the pressing human rights challenges facing a world in flux.
In her opening remarks, NHRC Vice Chairperson Wang Yu-Ling stated that fostering direct connections between emerging leaders and civil society is the most robust way to deepen human rights values and advance Taiwan’s human rights diplomacy. Drawing on Taiwan’s journey through its 38-year history of the Martial Law, she affirmed that this unique experience—and the profound understanding of freedom it cultivated—is Taiwan’s most precious asset to share with the world. “Taiwan is willing to serve as a beacon for democracy and a pillar of support for human rights defenders everywhere,” she declared.
The forum’s panel discussion delved into the multifaceted challenges facing the region, moderated by Vice Chairperson Wang. Marcin Jerzewski, Head of the European Values Center for Security Policy’s Taiwan Office, delivered a keynote speech analyzing the global trend of democratic backsliding.
The panel featured a diverse range of experts:
- Lu Yeh-Chung, Vice President of the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy (TFD), analyzed the shrinking civic space across the Indo-Pacific amid the US-China strategic competition.
- Lai You-Hao, a Non-Resident Fellow at the Research Institute for Democracy, Society and Emerging Technology (DSET), addressed threats of foreign infiltration to Taiwan’s democracy and the critical balance between national security and freedom of expression.
- Chiu E-Ling, National Director of Amnesty International Taiwan, highlighted the resilience of the region’s youth, who are turning to grassroots activism to defend human rights even as legislative progress stalls and international funding diminishes.
- Youth delegates Paul Sigar from Malaysia and Thi Hoai Anh Le from Vietnam offered powerful frontline perspectives. Mr. Sigar, CEO of the ASEAN-Australia Strategic Youth Partnership, shared insights on how youth in the region perceive government regulation of social media and its impact on free expression. Ms. Le, a Master’s Student at the University of Padova, detailed her experience empowering youth-led advocacy in Vietnam through collaboration with international bodies like the EU and UNICEF.
The dialogue was enriched by a dynamic Q&A session, where all participants actively exchanged their advocacy experiences. Vice Chairperson Wang’s sentiment, “On the path of defending human rights, we are all partners learning from each other,” perfectly captured the spirit of the event. The forum was more than a meeting; it was a cross-national and cross-generational inheritance of democratic experience, nurturing a powerful force for change.
The high-level event was also attended by NHRC Commissioners Wang Jung-Chang, Tien Chiu-Chin, and Yeh Ta-Hua, as well as Senior Advisor to the President Yao Chia-Wen. Looking ahead, NHRC Commissioner Lin Wen-Cheng is scheduled to provide expert feedback at the youth camp’s final policy report presentations on July 17.
The NHRC is confident that in the face of global democratic challenges and expanding authoritarianism, establishing such platforms will help solidify Taiwan’s position as a pivotal hub for dialogue in the Asia-Pacific, reinforcing its role as a key advocate for democracy and a promoter of peace in the region.