Equal Treatment of Foreign Fishermen Commissioner Wang Yu-ling, NHRC The human rights of foreign fishermen have always been a very important topic for us so I proposed to the NHRC that we collate the six major investigations conducted by the Control Yuan to produce a thematic report on the human rights of foreign fishermen. This was our first attempt at transferring Control Yuan investigations to the NHRC so that we can establish a model for future cooperation. This was also the first special report to be issued by the NHRC on an important human rights topic in its remit. Under the principle of equal rights outlined in the International Covenant on Economic Social and Cultural Rights, everyone has the right to the enjoyment of just and favorable work conditions without discrimination of any kind, such as race, color, sex, language, religion, and other status. Even if the Labor Standards Act cannot be applied directly to fishermen employed overseas at present, their labor conditions must still satisfy human rights standards and practical recommendations to this end were, therefore, made by me in this report. Preface 006