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Reform is required on same-sex marriage

  原文刊登於 2012年10月27日 蘋果日報 蘋果論壇   By Tsai Chi-hsun 蔡季勳   Tsai Chi-hsun is secretary-general of the Taiwan Association for Human Rights. Translated by Paul Cooper, from October 30th 2012 Taipei Times   The 2nd US Circuit Court of Appeals recently found in favor of New York resident Edith Windsor in a case over federal government inheritance tax, ruling that the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) violates the US Constitution’s equal protection clause.   Windsor had been in a relationship with her partner, Thea Spyer, for more than 40 years. The couple registered their marriage in Canada, where same-sex marriage…

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Asian and International Human Rights Groups Urge Malaysian Government to End Harassment against SUARAM

  Joint Press Statement 17 September 2012   Asian and International Human Rights Groups Urge Malaysian Government to End Harassment against SUARAM     We, the undersigned national, regional and international human rights organizations express our strongest protest against the Malaysian government’s ongoing harassment of Malaysia’s leading human rights organization, Suara Rakyat Malaysia (SUARAM) through investigations, public vilification and threats to charge the NGO for alleged financial irregularities, non-registration as a society, and receipt of foreign funds.   Since early July 2012, SUARAM has been a target of harassment by the government, which included visits by the Companies Commission of…

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‘Hsichih Trio’ are finally freed

    ‘Hsichih Trio’ are finally freed JUSTICE DELAYED:：Twenty-one years after the murders the trio had been convicted of, the High Court closed the case definitively in accordance with the speedy trials act By Rich Chang  /  Staff reporter, with CNA Sat, Sep 01, 2012 – Page 1     The “Hsichih Trio,” three former death row inmates in a long-running murder case that drew the attention of Amnesty International and other international human rights groups, were again found not guilty yesterday after the latest — and final — retrial by the Taiwan High Court. Calling the 21-year-old case closed,…

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2012 East Asia Symposium(2012東亞難民會議與培訓工作坊)

2012 East Asia Symposium 2012東亞難民會議 Legislation and the Developing Asylum Policy in East Asia (29 October 2012, Taipei) 東亞庇護政策的立法與發展(2012年10月29日，台北) Venue:  Soochow University, Downtown Campus, R.5211 地點:東吳大學城區部5211教室(地圖) The Asia Pacific Refugee Rights Network (APRRN), together with key refugee advocates and practitioners from East Asia are coming together to hold this symposium, with the aim of encouraging the development of asylum policy and legislation, and ensuring that it results in meaningful protection for refugees in practice.  Legislation and government policy around asylum has changed and is changing in important ways in East Asia.  Understanding and adapting to these changes is an ongoing challenge…

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Groups urge safety protection in deals

      Groups urge safety protection in deals UNACCEPTABLE:：China can detain a suspect without informing their families and hold them indefinitely if that person is charged with endangering national security By Ho Yi  /  Staff reporter Tue, Aug 07, 2012 – Page 1     Human rights groups yesterday protested in front of the Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) headquarters in Taipei, urging officials to include personal safety on the agenda of the next round of talks with China that begin tomorrow and calling for the immediate release of Bruce Chung (鍾鼎邦), a Taiwanese businessman and Falun Gong practitioner who…

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Ma urged to end his silence on detainee

  Ma urged to end his silence on detainee By Chris Wang  /  Staff reporter     Human rights groups and Falun Gong practitioners hold a protest near the Presidential Office in Taipei yesterday, calling on President Ma Ying-jeou to press the Chinese authorities to release detained Taiwanese businessman Bruce Chung. Photo: Chien Jung-fong, Taipei Times Civic groups staged a 10-hour protest yesterday in front of the Presidential Office, urging President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) to break his long silence on Beijing’s detention of a Taiwanese Falun Gong practitioner. More than 200 representatives from civic groups, lawmakers and ordinary citizens asked…

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FIDH& TAHR–Joint Statement Taiwan: Initial State Report on ICCPR & ICESCR

  International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) Taiwan Association for Human Rights (TAHR)   Joint Statement Taiwan: Initial State Report on ICCPR & ICESCR April 25, 2012, Paris-Taipei – The International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and the Taiwan Association for Human Rights (TAHR) take note of the long awaited initial state report on ICCPR and ICESCR released by the Taiwanese government on April 20th 2012. We welcome the fact that the government is going to organize an international panel  to examine the state report. However, FIDH and TAHR call upon the government to consult civil society both at national…

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[Call for Endorsement] Taiwan: Stop the Forced Evictions of the Urban Renewal Victim Families

 So far, there are 52 communities facing the same situation like the Wang families. If the Wang's houses are demolished, there will be more houses teared down by the government according to the Urban Renewal Act. There are many students, victim families, NGOs gathering in front of the Wang's house trying to stop the eviction by their bodies. Following is the photo took in front of the Wang families' house last night. photo by: Taiwan Urban Renewal Victims Association   Call for endorsement Urgent Appeal   Taiwan: Stop the Forced Evictions of the Urban Renewal Victim Families    March 23, 2012  …