U.S. President Biden hosted the 2nd Summit for Democracy on March 29-30, 2023. National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) Chairperson Chen Chu was invited to record a “National Statement” video for the summit, highlighting Taiwan’s achievements over the past year in fulfilling its democratic commitments through the collaborative efforts of the public and private sectors and civil society. Chairperson Chen Chu also recorded a video titled “Democracy Delivers” alongside representatives of other countries, which emphasized that democracy can bring positive forces for change such as justice, civil rights, and women in leadership to the world.
Chairperson Chen Chu stated that democracy is embedded in Taiwan’s DNA. Nevertheless, democracy should never be taken for granted, as hard-won freedoms, human rights, and the rule of law will erode without proper protections.
Chairperson Chen Chu highlighted that even during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Taiwan remained committed to inviting international experts to conduct reviews of the implementation of United Nations conventions, including the United Nations Convention against Corruption, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights, the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the Convention on the Rights of the Child, and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. This ensured that Taiwan’s democracy and human rights standards remained in line with global norms.
Chairperson Chen Chu also highlighted Taiwan’s new citizen judge system and the launch of the inaugural National Human Rights Action Plan. Additionally, Taiwan has made significant progress toward a more inclusive, diverse, and open society by introducing legal amendments to address challenges faced by the LGBTQI+ community, particularly in the areas of marriage, child adoption, and access to medical services.
In terms of international participation, Chairperson Chen Chu expressed Taiwan’s sympathy with the suffering of Ukrainians, noting that Taiwan is actively defending the democratic order in concert with other countries. Taiwan supports global initiatives such as Transparency International, the Global Anti-Corruption Consortium (GACC), the International Fund for Public Interest Media (IFPIM), and the International Religious Freedom (IRF). Taiwan also maintains strong ties with international democratic community networks. For instance, it hosted the 11th World Movement for Democracy (WMD), participated as an observer in the Freedom Online Coalition (FOC), and, through the Global Cooperation and Training Framework (GCTF), conducted workshops on key global issues such as anti-corruption, media literacy, and women’s empowerment. These efforts, carried out in partnership with like-minded nations such as the United States, Japan, and Australia, aim to strengthen democratic resilience in the region.
Finally, Chairperson Chen Chu noted that Taiwan has received significant support from international allies in its democratic transition and is committed to sharing its democratic experience with other nations and peoples striving for freedom and democracy.
The first Summit for Democracy was hosted by President Biden in 2021. This year, President Biden co-hosted the second Summit in a virtual format along with South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and leaders from the Netherlands, Zambia, and Costa Rica. A total of 120 countries, along with citizen groups and private companies, took part in the event.