The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) held a public hearing on June 25 as part of its Systemic Inquiry into Public Property Management and Forced Evictions under the Right to Adequate Housing. The hearing was jointly chaired by Commissioners Tien Chiu-chin and Kao Yung-cheng and brought together affected individuals and their family members, civil society organizations and community advocates, scholars and experts, representatives of central and local government agencies, members of the media, and interested members of the public, both in person and via livestream. The hearing sought to gather diverse perspectives as an important foundation for subsequent institutional review and policy and legislative recommendations.
The NHRC explained that the inquiry was initiated in response to the concerns expressed by international reviewers in the Concluding Observations and Recommendations following the Third National Report on the ICCPR and ICESCR in 2022 regarding the need to identify and investigate risks of systemic forced evictions in Taiwan. Drawing on the Asia Pacific Forum of National Human Rights Institutions (APF)'s methodology for investigating systemic human rights violations, the NHRC has prioritized forced eviction issues arising from the management of public property. Through in-depth interviews, public hearings, document collection, and cross-referencing of information, the inquiry seeks to examine gaps between Taiwan's laws, procedures, and administrative practices and international human rights standards, with a view to proposing policy and legislative reforms.
Commissioner Tien Chiu-chin noted that the NHRC's preliminary review identified four major categories of forced eviction issues: public property management, land expropriation, urban land readjustment, and urban renewal. The first phase of the systemic inquiry focuses on public property management as a starting point for examining whether Taiwan's institutions and practices comply with international human rights standards relating to the right to adequate housing and the prohibition of forced evictions. Tien further emphasized that the purpose of the hearing was not to determine responsibility in individual cases. Rather, it was intended to facilitate direct dialogue and collectively identify institutional gaps, challenges in administrative practice, and possible directions for future legal reform.
Commissioner Kao Yung-cheng observed that when administrative agencies handle disputes involving public land, they frequently resort to civil litigation. This approach may weaken the State's responsibility to safeguard human rights and meet procedural requirements, particularly with respect to advance notice, genuine consultation, social impact assessments, and resettlement and compensation measures. Associate Professor Ho Yen-sheng, who leads the commissioned research team, further noted several key issues that have emerged from the inquiry and warrant closer examination. These include differing interpretations of residential rights and obligations prior to government land recovery, unequal treatment of residents within the same area, inadequate consultation and communication processes, and the lack of necessary legal, medical, relief, and social support services following relocation.
The NHRC stressed that the systemic inquiry follows a defined scope and methodology. Its primary purpose is to identify and address institutional and systemic issues rather than investigate individual misconduct or serve as a mechanism for case-specific remedies. Inclusion in the inquiry does not alter existing administrative decisions or judicial judgments in any individual case. Given limitations in available resources and budget, the current inquiry focuses on seven public property management cases that have previously attracted the attention of international reviewers under the Two Covenants review process. These include the Huaguang Community, Wolong Street in Taipei, Daguan Community in Banqiao, Toad Mountain Settlement, Liugong Canal in Xindian, the Liu family case in Longpu Village, Sanxia, and Lo-Sheng Sanatorium.
During the hearing, affected residents, family members, and community advocates described their experiences of prolonged housing insecurity, repeated threats of eviction and claims for unjust enrichment, insufficient communication and consultation, and inadequate support following relocation. Participating scholars and experts emphasized that when addressing forced eviction issues, the State should not rely solely on formal legality or the outcome of individual lawsuits. Instead, it should examine whether genuine consultation has been conducted, comprehensive social impact assessments have been undertaken, and accompanying measures consistent with human rights standards have been provided.
The NHRC stated that it will continue to compile and analyze information gathered through the hearing, in-depth interviews, written submissions, online feedback forms, and responses from government agencies. These materials will be incorporated into the overall analysis of the inquiry. According to the current schedule, a mid-term progress briefing will be held in July 2026, followed by a presentation of the final inquiry report in November 2026. The NHRC also once again encouraged individuals connected to the cases under review to register for interviews and contribute their perspectives to the inquiry process.