Today (21 January, 2026) the Legislative Yuan reviewed the draft amendments to selected provisions of the People with Disabilities Rights Protection Act (hereinafter, the Executive Yuan version), as approved by the Executive Yuan. The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), had previously issued its opinion on the draft amendments to selected provisions of the same Act announced by the Ministry of Health and Welfare on 7 August, 2024. The NHRC notes with approval that the Executive Yuan has taken its recommendations into account in the Executive Yuan version, including the incorporation of services for independent living support; the addition of complaint mechanisms for reasonable accommodation and corresponding penalties; and the provision that a person who has committed the offense of domestic violence and received a deferred prosecution disposition or a final conviction shall not serve as the head (director) of a welfare institution for persons with disabilities.
The NHRC’s overall observations include the following: it reiterates that the current definition of disability in the Act is not consistent with the object and purpose of the Convention and requires urgent revision; the Executive Yuan version has yet to incorporate “inclusive education” into the Act and therefore does not conform to the spirit of the Convention; and the promotion of “reasonable accommodation” is of critical importance and should be supported by a comprehensive set of measures. The NHRC also provides comments on specific provisions, including: the addition of Article 10-1 (access to information and freedom of expression for persons with disabilities); amendments to Article 52-2 (accessibility testing of websites and mobile applications); amendments to Article 54 (improvement plans for urban roads, sidewalks, and arcades); and amendments to Articles 74 and 86 (anti-discrimination provisions concerning media reporting and broadcasting content, and the corresponding penalties).
With respect to the amended provisions in the Executive Yuan version, the NHRC, with reference to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), the CRPD General Comments, and the Concluding Observations on the Second National Report under the CRPD, has formulated its opinion in accordance with international human rights standards. This opinion was adopted at the 74th meeting of the 1st term of the NHRC on 20 January, 2026.