Taiwan Association for Human Rights

The Taiwan Power Association was established on December 10, 1984 (International Human Rights Day) during the martial law period. Due to prolonged martial law, Taiwan has failed to implement basic human rights protections. In the early days of our establishment, we focused on promoting democratic reforms and ensuring various political and civil rights. In recent years, the work of the Taiwan Rights Council has expanded to various human rights issues. The main work is as follows:

Case assistance: investigate and provide specific assistance to major cases where the state has seriously violated the basic rights of the people.

• The Taiwan Rights Association has rescued and supported major criminal judicial injustice cases such as the case of Su Jianhe and the case of Qiu Heshun, provided litigation assistance, held lecture tours, and observed courts. Wrong policies, Wulai aborigines were demolished by the New Taipei City government and other incidents, participated in administrative litigation, and asked the government to make corrections through press conferences and letters. In recent years, the Taiwan Rights Council has also participated in supporting and advocating the improvement of relevant laws and regulations for cases of forced eviction, refugees, and statelessness

Bill Research and Advocacy: Introduce the latest information on international human rights laws, monitor and timely prevent national human rights violations and policies. Topics that the Taiwan Power Council will focus on in the near future include:

• International human rights conventions and human rights protection mechanisms: Taiwan has long been isolated from the international community and lacks integration with the international human rights system. Starting from non-governmental organizations, the Taiwan Rights Council introduces international human rights knowledge and improves domestic legislation and the legal environment. In recent years, with the domestic legalization of international human rights conventions, the government has supervised the implementation of international conventions and norms, giving birth to independent and pluralistic national human rights institutions.

• Right to assembly and procession: The Taiwan Power Association has long been concerned about the relevant amendments to the right to assembly and procession, translated relevant United Nations documents, published the "Protest and Self-Defense Handbook", and supported various actions to defend freedom of speech and hold national violence accountable.
• Internet freedom and privacy: Taiwan Power will continue to pay attention to whether the country has violated and comprehensively monitored Internet freedom and privacy rights. If science and technology policy lacks democratic supervision and human rights awareness, a new form of authoritarian character will emerge in the country.
• Right of residence: Since 2013, due to more and more cases of forced evictions, the Taiwan Rights Council has begun to participate in and pay attention to the issue of forced evictions, and pay attention to the large-scale evictions that may be caused by the development of Taoyuan "Aviation City", and support Cases of forced eviction of vagrants, Huaguang community, and Lawak tribe.
• Immigrants, Refugees, and Stateless Persons: The Association has long been concerned about the basic human rights of foreigner shelters, asylum seekers, refugees, and stateless persons, and called for relevant legislation and law amendments.

Promote human rights concepts and education, and train human rights workers.

• Organize "human rights workshops" and "volunteer training" in various places to promote the concept of human rights and train human rights workers.
• Issued "Taiwan Human Rights Newsletter", "TAHR PAS Quarterly", Human Rights Report, and Annual Work Report.
• Engaged in the translation, production and publication of books on human rights issues and multimedia teaching materials.

Participate in international human rights organizations to exchange experience and support each other.

• Forum Asia (Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development): "Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development" is the most important transnational non-governmental human rights organization in Asia, headquartered in Bangkok, Thailand. Through Forum-Asia's member network platform, actively participate in various important human rights activities in Asia, share domestic human rights status with other countries, and support each other.
• FIDH (International Federation for Human Rights): "International Federation for Human Rights" is the oldest human rights organization in the world, headquartered in Paris, France, with 164 member organizations around the world. The Taiwan Power Association joined in 2007 and became a full member in 2009. It has worked with FIDH to conduct investigations on the current situation of death penalty in Taiwan and Japan, and jointly voiced support on important human rights issues.
• APRRN (Asia Pacific Refugee Rights Network): The "Asia Pacific Refugee Rights Network" is composed of more than 116 non-governmental organizations around the world. Asia is home to the largest number of refugees in the world. APRRN has a diverse membership organization. Through legislation, policies, and case assistance, it aims to improve the situation of refugees, asylum seekers, and foreigner shelters.