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Establishing a National Human Rights Institution—Taiwan in Global Trends

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Taiwan and International Human Rights

Part of the book series: Economics, Law, and Institutions in Asia Pacific ((ELIAP))

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Abstract

The UN has been promoting the establishment of independent NHRIs for several decades and the Paris Principles were passed as the international standards thereof. All treaty bodies believe that NHRIs are positive actors in the implementation of human rights treaties. There are currently 146 NHRIs, having been implemented in over 70% of the world’s states. It can be observed that there have been two high tides of NHRI establishment between 1990 and 2009 during which 77% of the world’s NHRIs were established. This chapter explores Taiwan’s preparatory work in establishing a NHRI in line with global trends. The analysis focuses on three main issues, including historical developments, model types, and accreditation results. It examines both the global trends and Taiwanese endeavors. It explains that only two NHRI models, an independent human rights commission or a human rights ombudsman—the models adopted by most states, are proposed in Taiwan. It also observes that elements such as time, region and model are not key factors in accreditation. When Taiwan prepares to establish a NHRI, competence and responsibility, composition, independence and methods of operation are, in truth, the essential elements to be complied with.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    De Beco and Murray (2015), pp. 3, 146.

  2. 2.

    Committee on the Rights of the Child (2002), para 1.

  3. 3.

    Livingstone and Murray (2004), p. 137.

  4. 4.

    Kjærum (2015), p. viii.

  5. 5.

    By 17 January 2017 GANHRI’s website lists 147 NHRIs. But Tajikistan is repeated; therefore, the number of NHRIs listed at GANHRI should be 146.

  6. 6.

    In GANHRI’s website Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan are defined as European states. This definition is followed in this chapter.

  7. 7.

    There are 9 in Europe, 28 in Asia-Pacific, 14 in Africa and 8 in America.

  8. 8.

    Lin (2001), p. 2.

  9. 9.

    Coalition for the Promotion of a National Human Rights Commission in Taiwan (1999), p. 1.

  10. 10.

    Chen (2000).

  11. 11.

    International Group of Independent Experts Taipei (2013) Review of the Initial Reports of the Government of Taiwan on the Implementation of the International Human Rights Covenants, para 9. http://www.humanrights.moj.gov.tw/cp-468-31488-75b0f-200.html. Accessed 20 Apr 2018.

  12. 12.

    Review Committee (2014).

  13. 13.

    Committee on the Rights of the Child, supra note 2, at para 1.

  14. 14.

    Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (2016), para 5.

  15. 15.

    See Executive Yuan (2016).

  16. 16.

    See Committee for the Promotion of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (2016), para 306–307.

  17. 17.

    Epoch Times (2011).

  18. 18.

    See DPP press release on 9 December 2015.

  19. 19.

    International Review Committee (2017), para 9.

  20. 20.

    See Hung (2017).

  21. 21.

    See UN Human Rights Office of the High Comm’n (1993), Part I, para 36.

  22. 22.

    See website of GANHRI.

  23. 23.

    See Liao (2011), p. 55.

  24. 24.

    Council Directive, 2000/43/EC of 29 June 2000, implementing the principle of equal treatment between persons irrespective of racial or ethnic origin.

  25. 25.

    Council Directive, 2000/78/EC of 27 November 2000, establishing a general framework of equal treatment in employment and occupation.

  26. 26.

    European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (2012), p. 99.

  27. 27.

    Elizondo and Aguilar (2000), pp. 209–210.

  28. 28.

    von Doussa (2005), pp. 4–5.

  29. 29.

    See Human Rights Act 2001, art 5 (NZ).

  30. 30.

    Burdekin (2000), p. 831.

  31. 31.

    O’Cinneide (2007), p. 142.

  32. 32.

    See Neff and Avebury (2000), pp. 675–677.

  33. 33.

    See Boothman (2000), pp. 691–732. Hadden (2000), p. 794. McCrudden (1987), pp. 227–266.

  34. 34.

    See Suk (2006), pp. 439–454.

  35. 35.

    Bossman (2005), pp. 57–86. International Council on Human Rights Policy (2000), pp. 9–20.

  36. 36.

    Sekaggya (2005), pp. 165–178.

  37. 37.

    Pityana (2000), pp. 627–638.

  38. 38.

    Tabiu (2000), pp. 553–560.

  39. 39.

    Sripati (2000), p. 1.

  40. 40.

    Shameem (2005), pp. 43–56.

  41. 41.

    Bahadur (2005), pp. 117–134.

  42. 42.

    See Liao, supra note 23, at pp. 353–357.

  43. 43.

    Su et al. (2016).

  44. 44.

    See Huang (2003), pp. 4–10.

  45. 45.

    Liu (2008), p. 129.

  46. 46.

    According to GANHRI, there are currently three levels of accreditation: “A” voting member: complies fully with the Paris Principles, “B” observer member: does not fully comply with the Paris Principles or has not yet submitted sufficient documentation to make that determination, and “C” non-member: does not comply with the Paris Principles. See the website of the GANHRI.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Oxford University, Oxford, UK

    Fort Fu-Te Liao

  2. Institute of Law, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan

    Fort Fu-Te Liao

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Correspondence to Fort Fu-Te Liao .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. U.S.-Asia Law Institute, New York University, New York, NY, USA

    Jerome A. Cohen

  2. Harvard Law School, Cambridge, MA, USA

    William P. Alford

  3. Constitutional Court, Taipei, Taiwan, Taiwan

    Chang-fa Lo

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Liao, F.FT. (2019). Establishing a National Human Rights Institution—Taiwan in Global Trends. In: Cohen, J., Alford, W., Lo, Cf. (eds) Taiwan and International Human Rights. Economics, Law, and Institutions in Asia Pacific. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-0350-0_9

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