Mon, Dec 20, 1999 page2

• Rights awareness insufficient

  HUMAN RIGHTS Scholars and professionals are pushing for the establishment of a National Human Rights Commission to bring Taiwan into the global mainstream; while also possibly engaging more fully with the international community

  • By Irene Lin / STAFF REPORTER
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  Pointing to low human rights awareness in Taiwan, human rights activists have recently highlighted day-to-day human rights violations on the island and called for an end to its long-term isolation from the international human rights system.

  In 1971, the ROC government, in competition with the PRC to be acknowledged as the legitimate regime of China, was forced out of the United Nations. This severance from the international body has not only made Taiwan politically isolated, but has also put the island outside the international human rights system.

  Human rights activists often argue while most people on the island take pride on its political liberalization and economic success, few of them are aware that they are less protected than people of third-world countries in terms of human rights.

  Human rights education is almost totally lacking in Taiwan. This situation is made worse by the anti-human rights education that goes on every day in society, the activists pointed out.

  Many examples of human rights violations can be seen in everyday life. The newspapers are daily filled with stories of child abuse, prostitution or labor strikes.

  Switching on the TV, the spotlight is turned on the police station, where a "bad guy" has been just caught by police and now is being pursued by the media. Stunned by camera flashlights and the reporters' barrage of questions, the "suspect" pleads guilty to the charges filed against him by the reporters. His future conviction is virtually assured if the judge for his case has seen the TV news coverage.

  "Why did you get down to your knees in front of the camera? Your very act has made it impossible for me to believe you're innocent" a judge told a defendant in a high-profile kidnap-murder case a few years ago.

  The international human rights system was established early in 1945 when UN member nations declared in the Preamble to the Charter of the UN their determination "to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war ... to reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights ... and to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom."

  Since the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the UN has developed a comprehensive strategy aimed at achieving the human rights objective set out in the Charter, creating a body of international rules and standards which now cover virtually every sphere of human activity.

  Sadly, Taiwan, due to its peculiar political conditions, has been outside the international human rights system since 1971. Despite the fact that the promotion and protection of human rights has become an universal obligation among countries nowadays, both the government and people on island have found little incentive to comply with international human rights standards.

  Peter Ng (黃?撊?/CHINESE>), chairperson of the Taiwan Association for Human Rights (台灣?H權促進會), said standard for human rights in this country are far lower than those in many third-world countries that are members of the UN.

  Any UN member state is subject to UN standards on human rights, in the form of either treaties, conventions or protocols, and have to present reports on human rights annually to the UN. Whether willing or not, these countries have to build up mechanisms for implementation of the international human rights standards.

  "There is no denying Taiwan is one of the world's thriving economies, but how come this wealthy country doesn't even have minimum human rights awareness?" Ng asked.

  The low awareness can probably be attributed to a long-existing vacuum of information and education on human rights. According to a survey, the seven largest libraries in Taiwan boast a total of only 162 items of information on human rights in Chinese. Materials are even scarcer at all levels of the educational system.

  Ironically, Ng said, China, which is often subject to international criticisms over its human rights records, outnumbers Taiwan in the volume of its human rights-related publications.

  "As long as the minimal infrastructure has yet to be established, there is little hope to develop human rights awareness on the island," Ng said.

  On Human Rights Day, Dec. 10, a new coalition was formed by a number of civil groups, academics and bar associations. The primary objective of the coalition to press the government to establish a national institution in charge of matters relating human rights.

  The functions of the National Human Rights Commission, the groups claim, would range from promoting human rights awareness and education to reviewing existing and proposed legislation and assisting in the drafting of new legislation.

  Domestically, the commission could provide the government with advice on drawing up policies in accordance with international human rights standards. Internationally, it would be able to act as an entity, through which Taiwan could gain access to international organizations.

  Most importantly, the commission could be charged with the task of investigating complaints of alleged human rights violations, provided that it is ensured operational and financial, independence.

  However, the campaign has so far received little attention from the government and the general public because of scant media coverage.

  Not discouraged by the slow public response, Ng said they will continue to press the government to take seriously the issue of creating a national human rights commission.

  "Taiwan is highly sensitive of its international image and status. Seeking participation in the international human rights system will give Taiwan opportunities to stop being isolated or isolating itself from international society," Ng said. "This is merely a side-effect of our campaign. But we know that the incentive has to be provided to garner support for the campaign. That's exactly where our next move shall be."

  Asked what he thinks of his chances of success, Ng said: "I really don't feel any assurance about it. But it's still worth a try."
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