Human Rights are Continuously Advancing Forward The process of establishing the National Human Commission is to be the conscience of Taiwan Rights Commission started more than 20 years ago and the champion for the vulnerable. Despite thanks to the advocacy of human rights groups. limited manpower, resources, and experience, The establishment of the National Human Rights we have cooperated with the Examination Commission was supported by several presidents Yuan and the Ministry of Education in the past over the years and the legislation was finally year to collaboratively integrate the spirit of the passed. The National Human Rights Commission human rights conventions into the civil service was officially inaugurated in August 2020. For the and education system to cultivate a deeper past year, commissioners and staff of the National understanding of human rights in our public service Human Rights Commission worked together and education system. arduously to actively supervise the nation’s human rights policies and affairs, conduct international For nearly half a century, the people of Taiwan human rights exchanges, promote human rights have had to endure living in the gloomy depths of education, conduct research on human rights darkness – void of human rights; those days, under issues, interpret human rights conventions, carry out authoritarian rule, people lived in fear, and mutual investigations and social dialogue, and organize suspicion and mistrust were rampant. Back then, forums and seminars, etc. human rights were akin to dim light in a dark room. We give our deepest and most sincere gratitude The Commissioners of the National Human Rights to those who fought for democracy, freedom, Commission hail from different backgrounds and and human rights in Taiwan. These heroes fought have different and distinct areas of expertise. tirelessly and sacrificed themselves one after With the diverse composition of the Commission, another until the dim light grew so shiny that it we expect to create a macro perspective chased away the darkness. They established the and thinking to facilitate communication and democratic constitutional reform so that the people dialogue between human rights groups and of Taiwan no longer lived in fear. policymakers and to develop mechanisms to help A photo of the War and Peace Memorial Park in Cijin, Kaohsiung underprivileged people. Even during this fraught The air of freedom that Taiwanese people breathe COVID-19 pandemic, we continued to conduct every day as well as the human rights that we video conferences with human rights institutions in enjoy did not come easily. The National Human Australia, the United Kingdom, and New Zealand Rights Commission will continue to carry that torch to learn and exchange professional experience of freedom given to us by our brave predecessors regarding human rights issues. and continue to advocate and promote universal human rights in Taiwan. Let us work together to The mission of the National Human Rights fight for and safeguard Taiwan’s human rights. Chairperson Chen Chu, National Human Rights Commission 02 03