Shining Light into Dark Corners (CAT) on December 1, 2020, as part of its efforts first time to share New Zealand’s experience with Commission’s representative to New Zealand’s to promote the incorporation of CAT into domestic the implementation of NPM. They also reported “Children's Convention Monitoring Group.” legislation. A platform for communication was also on the role they played in the New Zealand Advisor Ruth Nichols had previously worked for set up for the academia, government agencies, parliament and how NPM monitoring was New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and non-government organizations and members of the conducted in New Zealand during the COVID-19 Trade and was also an academic involved with the public to help prevent torture and ill-treatment in pandemic. health sector. New Zealand had first established its multiple The NHRC hopes that the draft act on body NPM as early as 2007. The New Zealand implementation of NPM and its associated Human Rights Commission has been responsible legislation will be approved by the Legislative Yuan Taiwan together. During the conference, Chen Chu, the Chairperson of NHRC, said that freedom from torture was a On December 1, 2020, the Chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission, Chen Chu, took part in a conference on Convention Against Torture and gave a speech. for coordinating with the Office of the Ombudsman as soon as possible. The mechanism for prevention be made to improve the operating mechanisms of and other agencies on the joint implementation of torture and ill-treatment can then be implemented the NHRC and provide assurances at the national of NPM for the past 14 years. Jaimee Paenga effectively to gradually reform risk factors in human level so that even the weakest and most humble plays a significant role as the Legal Advisor to rights, shine the light on dark corners, and eliminate segments of society can be heard. The NRHC the NZ Human Rights Commission. Her primary all forms of torture and other ill-treatment in Taiwan. will also take on the role of the NPM to eliminate responsibilities are the overall management and The integration of international best practices will torture and other ill-treatment. coordination of NPM activities in New Zealand. help realize the ideal of a nation founded upon At the same time, she is also the Human Rights human rights. fundamental human right. Every effort will therefore Preparation 3 Inter-ministerial Talks on NPM between the Executive Yuan, Ministry of Justice, and Ministry of Health and Welfare There are currently more than ten thousand people in detention or shelters in Taiwan. These include On April 7, 2021, the Executive Yuan, Ministry of Justice, and Ministry of Health and Welfare held an inter-ministerial meeting regarding NPM. corrections agencies under the Ministry of Justice or social welfare and care institutions under the session on June 11 to collect their input on Ministry of Health and Welfare. In addition to the promotion of human rights and establish a permanent detention facilities, NPM is empowered framework for NPM inspections. to inspect temporary holding facilities such as pretrial detention, transit areas of international airports, inside courts, or modes of transportation that restrict the freedom of passengers. Preparation 4 NPM Forum New Zealand‘s Sharing of its Experience with NPM Monitoring during the COVID-19 Pandemic 30 To ensure the quality of monitoring activities during The “Forum on International Practice of OPCAT the NPM pilot program, the NHRC invited Minister - NPM & Human Rights of Fishermen” was held without Portfolio Lo Ping-cheng from the Executive by the NHRC on June 23, 2021, to learn from Yuan, Deputy Minister of Justice Chen Ming-tang, international experience. In addition to a video Deputy Minister of Health and Welfare Lee Li-feng, recorded by Chief Ombudsman Peter Boshier as well as officials from the relevant competent from the Office of the Ombudsman New Zealand authorities such as the Agency of Corrections and to send his regards to the forum, Jaimee Paenga, the Social and Family Affairs Administration to Legal Advisor to the New Zealand Human Rights study the implementation details for the NPM pilot Commission as well as Ruth Nichols, Principal program jointly. The agencies to be inspected were Advisor to the Office of the Ombudsman New also invited to take part in a video conferencing Zealand, took part in the video conference for the On June 23, 2021, Ruth Nichols, the Principal Advisor on OPCAT, Office of the Ombudsman New Zealand shared her NPM operational experience in the “Forum on International Practice of OPCAT-NPM & Human Rights of Fishermen.” 31