The APF has convened a high-level dialogue with the National Human Rights Commission of Taiwan.

The APF has convened a high-level dialogue with the National Human Rights Commission of Taiwan (NHRC) to discuss priority issues identified by the institution and to facilitate the exchange of ideas with APF members in the region.

Held as a hybrid event from 16-17 May, the dialogue was moderated by APF Expert Consultant, Rosslyn Noonan, who attended in-person in Taipei along with the Commissioners and staff of the NHRC.

The APF secretariat was represented by Pip Dargan, Principal Adviser, Capacity Assessments and International Engagement, and Kieren Fitzpatrick, APF Director, who both attended virtually.

During the first day’s session, the NHRC Chairperson provided an overview of the NHRC’s structure and priorities. Discussions then focused on the Commission’s mandate to engage with stakeholders from government, parliament and civil society, and its role within the international human rights system, considering Taiwan’s non-State status within the United Nations.

The NHRC Vice Chairperson shared an update on the NHRC’s current engagement with the international community, which was followed by presentations from former representatives of NHRIs from the APF network.

Karen Gomez-Dumpit, former Commissioner of the Philippines Commission for Human Rights, provided her perspective on NHRI international engagement, while Rosslyn Noonan shared her experiences and insights as former Chief Commissioner of the New Zealand Human Rights Commission.

The second day of the dialogue focused on how NHRIs set out objectives and priorities for their institutions. Chiu-chin Tien, Commissioner at the NHRC, and Dr. Chan-un Park, Standing Commissioner of the National Human Rights Commission of Korea, took part in the discussions alongside Ms Gomez-Dumpit and Ms Noonan, which covered practical advice for setting up effective institutional processes.

“The high-level dialogue was an opportunity to bring together representatives from NHRIs from across the Asia Pacific region, to share their perspectives and experiences and support the NHRC as it works towards becoming an institution fully compliant with the Paris Principles,” said Ms Dargan.

The APF is grateful to all attendees for their participation and insights and looks forward to continuing to work with the NHRC in its efforts to protect and promote human rights in Taiwan.

Date: 31 May 2022