On October 25, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) held the inaugural session of its lecture series on the ICCPR and ICESCR, shedding light on the intricate links and evolving relationship between businesses and human rights. The opening topic, "Businesses and Human Rights: Trends and Reflective Thinking," explored the crucial relationship between business practices and their implication on human rights. Professor Teng Yean-sen from Soochow University, an international human rights law scholar, presided as the keynote speaker, while Professor Eibe Riedel, an Honorary Professor from the University of Mannheim in Germany and former Vice-Chair of the UN Committee on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights, graced the event as a discussant.
In her opening remarks, NHRC Chairperson Chen Chu emphasized Professor Riedel’s long-standing commitment to Taiwan's human rights issues. Since 2012, he has been an international reviewer for Taiwan's Initial National Reports on the ICCPR and ICESCR. His contributions were notably highlighted in Recommendations 24 and 25 of the Third National Report, emphasizing the importance of corporate adherence to human rights norms. In 2019, the Executive Yuan launched the “National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights” in response to the “UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.” The Plan reinforces the state’s duty to protect human rights, focusing on safeguarding labor conditions and rights. The NHRC firmly maintains that human rights standards must be upheld throughout the entire corporate supply chain, underscoring the necessity to scrutinize potential human rights violations against workers. As such, human rights within businesses are expected to receive due attention and improvement. This approach aims to foster a mutually beneficial relationship between labor and management, paving the way for a win-win situation.
In the lecture, Professor Teng delved into the development of corporate responsibility for human rights, charting how international standards have been established to guide this area. He discussed the legal framework that shapes the interaction of corporate operations and human rights, highlighting a significant shift: Companies are moving from simply opting to respect human rights to being legally required to do so. Professor Teng urged Taiwanese companies to embrace this global movement, featuring the importance of proactive engagement with human rights principles. Professor Riedel further elaborated on the persistent challenges companies face as they move from a stance of voluntary compliance to a legal obligation regarding human rights. He drew upon Germany’s recent experience with its Supply Chain Act—which came into force this year—detailing the hurdles encountered and proposing possible ways to address them.
The second session in this lecture series will address "The Right to Adequate Housing: Anti-Displacement," is jointly organized with the College of Law at National Chengchi University. Associate Professor Chia-ho Lin and Attorney Lukas Romberg from the University of Mannheim will examine adequate housing and the prohibition of forced eviction through international conventions and practical case studies, supplemented with discussions on land use, urban planning, and the protection of rights for vulnerable communities. The third session, "Non-Discrimination and Rights of the LGBTIQ Community: The Plight of Queer Families," will be conducted in cooperation with Soochow University. It will feature the screening of “Together, Stronger in the Rain”—a documentary produced by the NHRC—followed by a discussion led by Professor Riedel on the challenges faced by queer families and an introduction to relevant judgments made by the European Court of Human Rights. Through these lectures, the NHRC aspires to foster a comprehensive approach to human rights advocacy, thereby advancing the development of human rights in Taiwan.