Amnesty International’s local branch on Wednesday called for more transparency in government efforts to improve Taiwan’s human rights situation.
Although the government last year launched two action plans as part of its pledge to improve the human rights situation, it remains unclear what exactly it is doing to achieve those goals, Amnesty International Taiwan secretary-general Chiu Ee-ling (邱伊翎) told a news conference.
She was referring to the National Human Rights Action Plan 2022-2024, and the Action Plan for Fisheries and Human Rights, both of which were launched in May last year.
Photo: Lin Cheng-kun, Taipei Times
The plans fail to provide a concrete road map for government agencies to improve the human rights situation, Chiu said.
She called for more transparency in the government’s efforts to tackle human rights abuses and improve the rights of the LGBTI community, migrant workers, women, children, people with disabilities, refugees and other vulnerable groups.
The 96-page National Human Rights Action Plan lays out eight priorities related to human rights and sets goals for government agencies as part of efforts to improve the situation, the Cabinet has said.
The Action Plan for Fisheries and Human Rights is a 25-page guideline for the government to promote “the rights and interests of migrant fishing workers” and ensure “sustainable fishing operations” from last year to 2025, with a budget of NT$604 million (US$19.83 million).
New Power Party Legislator Chiu Hsien-chih (邱顯智) said there is a lot to do in terms of regulatory efforts to protect migrant workers in Taiwan.
Better communication with the public is needed to make Taiwan a more inclusive society, he said.
Amnesty International Taiwan commended the government for scrapping a rule that forbade same-sex couples involving a Taiwanese national and a foreigner from a country that does not recognize same-sex marriage from registering their marriage.
However, the new rule does not apply to same-sex couples involving a partner from China, as such marriages would be governed by separate regulations, the Ministry of the Interior has said.
The news conference followed the release of an Amnesty International report on global human rights on Tuesday.
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