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Executive Yuan finally ratifies two UN rights treaties

The Executive Yuan ratified two UN human rights treaties yesterday, 31 years after the Republic of China (ROC) signed them as a member of the world body.

Premier Chang Chun-hsiung (張俊雄) said that once the Cabinet had ratified the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), legislative approval and a signature by the president would be required before the document can be sent to the UN.

However, Chang said that persuading top UN officials to take over the ratification instrument allowing Taiwan to complete the ratification process would be a difficult challenge, as the ROC is no longer a UN member.

China obtained the UN seat at the expense of Taiwan in 1971.

Despite the expected problems, the premier instructed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to seek completion of the ratification process "based on the general international political climate."

Under normal circumstances, covenants come into force three months after a state has submitted them to the UN.

The ROC government did not complete the domestic ratification process after it signed the two covenants in 1967 because of a sea change in the international situation that ultimately led to the 1971 transfer of the ROC seat to China.

Ratifying these treaties would be in accordance with President Chen Shui-bian's (陳水扁) call for Taiwan to become a full participant in the international human rights community, Chang said.

Chang said Chen has relentlessly called on the Cabinet to prompt the legislature into ratifying the International Bill of Human Rights, which contains the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the two treaties, as these would serve as the legal basis for human rights in Taiwan.

"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs' active push for the treaty ratifications clearly demonstrates Taiwan's efforts to protect human rights and to fulfill its duties as a member of the international community," Chang said.

As ratification must happen at the same time a draft bill regulating treaty implementation is passed in the legislature, Chang said, the bill and the treaties would be delivered simultaneously to the legislature for review. Government agencies will be expected to actively communicate with political parties to seek passage of the bill and treaties.
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