A Mission That Doesn’t Alter
From 1999 to 2006, from an Alliance for the Promotion of a NHRC to nothing, Taiwanese people and civil society witnessed the fail of one promising party which vowed to set up a National Human Rights Commission(NHRC). The Democratic Progressive Party turned out to be feeble when faced with criticism and self-contradictory when asked to follow the Paris Principles. The first party alteration didn’t seem to move human rights work as much forward as everyone expected. And the 2008 newly elected party, Chinese National Party (KMT), doesn’t seem to realize that human rights standards don’t change with the transition of…
Rights groups hail ratification of UN pacts
Human rights groups yesterday welcomed the legislature’s ratification of two UN human rights conventions on Tuesday — 42 years after their signing — and called on the government to turn the treaties into national policy. “The Taiwan Association for Human Rights welcomes the ratification of the two important international treaties on human rights,” association secretary-general Tsai Chi-hsun (蔡季勳) said, adding that the ratification was a milestone in the campaign to improve human rights protection. Tsai was referring to the legislature ratifying the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights,…
Revelation of Personal Data vs. Protection of Personal Data
This article was on Liberty Times Opinion 10 March, 2009. Here it is in its original length. As we are becoming more accustomed to the revelations, by the media of personal or private information which appear to pertain to “public interest” but never are the case, our Legislators, in the name of “public interest”, acting as upholders of justice while revealing personal information to the media, with often false sources unidentified or without prior notification or consent of the individuals. Existing practices do not provide legitimacy of the purpose itself; however, the Legislative Yuan is working on legalizing these practices.…
Free Tibet! Go Home! The 50th Anniversary of 310 Tibetans NationalUprising Day
On March 10, 1959, the Tibetans in Lhasa took to the streets, demanding the withdrawal of Chinese troops marching into and stationing there since 1949. After a few weeks, tens of thousands of Tibetans were killed and injured in this protest. The temples were damaged in large-scale. Dalai Lama brought 120 thousand Tibetans fled to exile in India and began the lives without freedom and home for half a century. The Tibetan National Uprising Day is March 10th every year.. Tibetans and supporters around the world would commemorate the bravely sacrificed Tibetans for the uprisings. This year is the 50th…
Right to Life and Safety of Civilians in Gaza Seriously Violated
During Israeli air attacks against the ruling Hamas government in Gaza Strip, the lives, safety, and personal property of Gaza residents is under serious threat and hundreds of innocent civilians have been killed. Accordingly, we the representatives of non-governmental organizations in the Asia-Pacific region, emphasize the need for restraint and for respect for international humanitarian standards during time of war, that non-combatants must not be targeted and must be protected. By condemning the atrocities committed against civilians during these air strikes, we demand from all sides engaged in armed activities, particularly the Israeli government, the neighboring states, and relevant international…
Joint Fact-Finding Mission in South Korea
Press Statement of the Joint Fact-Finding Mission of Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) and the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHCR) 1. Background of the Mission The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) and the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) decided to conduct a fact-finding mission, consisting of four members, to South Korea from 21-24 July 2008 in the light of numerous reports of human rights violations since May. The two regional human rights organisations consider the events recently occurring in South Korea of regional importance because South Korea is viewed as a benchmark for democracy…
Taiwanese Authorities Illegally Disclose the Civil Media Worker’sPersonal Information
As the leaders of the world’s largest economies gathered for the Group of Eight (G8) summit at the northern island of Hokkaido, the civil media from all over the world was ready to capture the protest rally and to hear what the demonstrators shout for. While the mainstream media only focused on the achievement of a few strong economies and neglected the harm from unevenly distributing the resources and depicting the protesters as villains, the civil media insisted on uncovering the evil essence of those strong powers. Em, two Taiwanese independent media workers representing the Civil Media Database, who were…
36 Hours Vigil for Leprosy Bill of Rights
The Leprosy Bill of Rights has reached its final stage! At the same time, five main political parties have not yet come to consensus and the completion of three readings for this bill is still uncertain. While the remained residents in Lo-shen Sanatorium put their priceless lives on one side of the scale, what will Legislative Yuan put on the other side? We hope that it won’t end in emptiness. At this crucial moment of the possible adoption of Leprosy Bill of Rights, TAHR launches a group-mobilization vigil for 36 hours to accompany the bill on its last stage. Justice…
The Judicature is Guilty; the Three is Not Guilty
The Judicature is Guilty; the Three is Not Guilty—Let Hsi-chih Trio Try the Justice Continuously! A United Statement issued by The Humanistic Education Foundation, Taiwan Association for Human Rights, Judicial Reform Foundation20070629 It was 16 years ago that the Trial of Hsi-chih Trio had first sparked the enormous attention from every part of the Taiwanese society. In 2003, the three convicts Su Chien-Ho, Liu Bing-Lang and Chuang Lin-Hsun were announced acquitted for the first time by the High Court’s criminal court, but this morning, Jun 29, 2007, the Court has shockingly reversed its judgment to sentence the three with death…
Activists, academics ‘surrender’ to protest law
Activists, academics ‘surrender’ to protest law By Loa Iok-sin STAFF REPORTER Tuesday, Jul 14, 2009, Taipei Times, Page 1 Members of Academia Sinica, professors and social activists attend a press conference in Taipei yesterday to protest against the Assembly and Parade Act and show their support for Lee Ming-tsung and Lin Chia-fan, who face charges under the act. PHOTO: LO PEI-DER, TAIPEI TIMES More than 120 academics and human rights activists said yesterday they would turn themselves in to prosecutors for breaking the Assembly and Parade Act (集會遊行法) in a protest against the legislation. One after another, more than 30…
The Trail of Hsichih Trio — Open Discussion!
To all that care about the Trial of Hsichih Trio, please come to the open discussion hosts by the Team of Redressing the Trail of Hsichih Trio at 2:00 pm, Sunday July 8, 2007, at Eslite Bookstore (Dun-Nan Store) B2 Media Center , to seat with Professor Lee Mao-Sheng (National Taiwan University Law School), Pro bono Sue Yo-Cheng, and legal medical expert Wu Mu-Zon to analyze the High Court’s verdict on the trial together, unmasking the craft behind the problematic judgment. Information about the Team of Redressing the Trial of Hsichih Trio please go to: