The Vienna-based International Press Institute (IPI) accused the UN of violating human rights because of its continued refusal to accredit Taiwanese journalists or anyone working for Taiwanese media outlets.
For the past four years, journalists carrying Taiwanese passports or working for Taiwanese media outlets have been barred from covering the annual World Health Assembly (WHA).
The refusal to accredit Taiwanese journalists has been attirbuted to the fact that Taiwan is not a member of the UN.
In a press release issued on Thursday, the IPI said the decision to bar Taiwanese journalists from being accredited to attend any events related to the UN or its subsidiaries, such as the WHO, is a 昼erious violation of press freedom and the principle of universality of human rights.?br />
The IPI is a global network of editors, media executives and leading journalists in over 120 countries. Other international journalist organizations, such as the International Federation of Journalists, have also been vocal about the UN旧 unfair treatment towards Taiwanese journalists.
ARTICLE 19
戦PI regards this decision as a serious violation of press freedom and the principle of universality of human rights,?said the press release, citing Article 19 of the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights which grants everyone the right to 昼eek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.?br />
背n addition, the IPI quoted Article 2 of the Declaration, which provides that all rights set forth therein apply to everyone and that 嘆o distinction shall be made on the basis of the political, jurisdictional or international status of the country or territory to which a person belongs, whether it be independent, trust, non-self-governing or under any other limitation of sovereignty.?br />
NO JUSTIFICATION
声ccordingly, it remains difficult to understand the justification for the UN旧 discrimination against certain journalists based on the political status of the country to which they belong,?the statement said.
声dministrative obstacles to press freedom and access to information are serious human rights violations,?IPI Director David Dadge said.
巣e urge the UN to revise such policies so they properly reflect the fundamental UN principles of equality and respect for press freedom. If this is not done, there is a very real danger to members of the Taiwanese public, who rely on the media for information about public health matters,?he said.
Palauan President Surangel Whipps Jr arrived in Taiwan last night to kick off his first visit to the country since beginning his second term earlier this year. After arriving at Taoyuan International Airport at around 6:30 pm, Whipps and his delegation were welcomed by Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍). Speaking to gathered media, the Palauan leader said he was excited and honored to be back in Taiwan on his first state visit to Taiwan since he was sworn in this January. Among those traveling with Whipps is Minister of State Gustav N. Aitaro, Public Infrastructure
President William Lai (賴清德) yesterday thanked Palau for its continued support of Taiwan's international participation, as Taipei was once again excluded from the World Health Assembly (WHA) currently taking place in Switzerland. "Palau has never stopped voicing support for Taiwan" in the UN General Assembly, the WHO and other UN-affiliated agencies, Lai said during a bilateral meeting with visiting Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr. "We have been profoundly touched by these endorsements," Lai said, praising the Pacific island nation's firm support as "courageous." Lai's remarks came as Taiwan was excluded for the ninth consecutive year from the WHA, which is being held in
RESOLUTIONS DEBATE: Taiwan’s allies said that UN and WHA resolutions cited by China and other nations ‘do not determine Taiwan’s participation in WHO activities’ A proposal to invite Taiwan to this year’s World Health Assembly (WHA) was rejected on Monday, resulting in Taipei’s absence from the annual meeting for a ninth consecutive year, although partners spoke up for Taiwan’s participation at the first day of the meeting. The first agenda item after the opening was a “two-on-two debate” on a proposal to invite Taiwan to participate at the WHA as an observer. Similar to previous years, two countries made statements in favor of the proposal, while two others expressed their opposition. Philippine Secretary of Health Teodoro Herbosa, president of the 78th WHA, accepted the WHA General Committee’s
At least three people died and more than a dozen were injured yesterday afternoon when a vehicle struck a group of pedestrians in New Taipei City’s Sansia District (三峽). The incident happened at about 4pm when a car rammed into pedestrians at an intersection near Bei Da Elementary School. Witnesses said the sedan, being driven at a high speed, ran a red light, knocking scooters out of the way and hitting students crossing the road before careening into a median near the intersection of Guocheng and Guoguang streets. The incident resulted in three deaths and 13 injuries, including the driver, a 78-year-old man