The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) held a workshop on March 31 entitled Supporting Civic Space in Asia: A Dialogue on Cooperation Between National Human Rights Institutions and Civil Society. The event brought together local and international experts and practitioners to exchange experiences and explore how Taiwan's free and open environment, combined with its vibrant civil society, can be leveraged to develop initiatives that strengthen the resilience of transnational civil society across Asia and promote the advancement of universal human rights in partnership with the international community.
In her opening remarks, Vice Chairperson Chi Hui-jung expressed appreciation to Amnesty International Taiwan, the workshop's co-organizer, and highlighted the NHRC's active participation in recent years in meetings of the Asia Pacific Forum of National Human Rights Institutions (APF) and its efforts to expand engagement with international organizations. Through these exchanges, the NHRC has gained insight into the practical measures adopted by transnational mechanisms and national human rights institutions to support and protect grassroots human rights defenders within their respective mandates. She also noted the high regard and expectations that the international community holds for Taiwan's open and democratic environment.
Echo Lin, Chairperson of Amnesty International Taiwan, reflected on the pivotal role that international support has played in Taiwan's democratic and human rights development. At a time when democracies around the world face significant challenges, he observed that Taiwan possesses considerable potential to demonstrate that “Taiwan Can Help” in the field of human rights. He expressed hope that civil society and government agencies would work together to strengthen ties with international partners and contribute to the advancement of democracy and human rights throughout the region.
To deepen understanding among government agencies of international human rights frameworks and policy practices, representatives from the Executive Yuan's Department of Human Rights and Transitional Justice, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of the Interior, the National Human Rights Museum, and the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy also participated in the morning session. More than 40 representatives from government agencies and civil society organizations attended the workshop.
Sarah Brooks, Deputy Regional Director for Asia-Pacific at Amnesty International, delivered a keynote address examining the evolution of the normative framework surrounding the concept of “Human Rights Defenders” within the United Nations system since the 1990s. Brooks emphasized that whether an individual is recognized as a human rights defender does not depend on a particular job title, but rather on the actions they undertake and the context in which they work. Any individual or organization committed to promoting and protecting universal human rights through non-violent and non-hateful means may rightfully claim the support and protection of the international community. She further noted that in 2016, the United Nations Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights explicitly recognized that when human rights defenders advocating for economic, social, and cultural rights face threats or harassment from governments or non-state actors, such as large corporations, both active violations and failures to act on the part of the State may constitute breaches of its international human rights obligations.
Commissioner Wang Yu-ling introduced the APF Regional Action Plan on Human Rights Defenders, adopted in 2020, from the perspective of the mandate and responsibilities of national human rights institutions. She also shared her vision for mobilizing resources across sectors and building a transnational civil society support network in Taiwan. As an increasing number of international human rights organizations establish offices in Taiwan, the NHRC hopes that Taiwan can further develop into a place where human rights defenders from across Asia can recharge, rest, and exchange experiences. In an increasingly interconnected world, Taiwan is well positioned to facilitate the sharing of practical experiences among human rights advocates.
The forum then featured discussions among Executive Director Chiu E-ling of Amnesty International Taiwan, Executive Director Ritz Lee Santos of Amnesty International Philippines, Executive Director Leah Lin of the Asian Citizen Future Association, Chief Executive Officer Li Shin-ying of the Open Culture Foundation, and moderator Commissioner Tien Chiu-chin. The panel examined broader trends affecting civic space across Asia as well as practical challenges facing civil society in both the Philippines and Taiwan. Topics included strategic litigation and judicial harassment, restrictions on civil society funding and the revocation of legal status, digital surveillance and cybersecurity risks, and the stigmatization of human rights defenders. Participants also explored ways to strengthen mutual support, build capacity, and cultivate a sustainable ecosystem for civic space.
During the afternoon session, representatives of the NHRC and civil society organizations continued discussions on future cooperation initiatives. Together, they explored practical approaches for promoting and protecting universal human rights amid the dual challenges of shrinking international resources and reductions in domestic government budgets.