Shining Light into Dark Corners due to the needs of epidemic prevention, Issues Related to Offenders with Mental Illness Gather Opinions from All Sectors appropriate support measures should be put In recent years, several serious criminal cases into place so that assistance could be provided related to individuals with mental disorders have through internal or private-sector resources. raised social concern and public worries. The Sufficient epidemic prevention supplies and government agencies seek to reinforce the legal protective equipment should also be supplied as foundation and plan to build a forensic psychiatric Where statutory support services were suspended well rather than placing the responsibility of care hospital. Besides, the Judicial Yuan and the on individual families. This is in line with the right Ministry of Justice have also proposed relevant law to independent living and community inclusion for draft amendments and tried to improve systems. persons with disabilities proclaimed by CRPD. The objective is to strengthen social safety net Panelist Zhang Li-qing, Distinguished Professor of the Department of Political Law, National University of Kaohsiung. Panelist Yang Tian-wei, executive director of the Taiwan Academy of Psychiatry and the Law. Panelist Zhou Han-wei, Chief Executive Officer of the Legal Aid Foundation. Panelist Teng Xi-hua, chair of the Taiwan Association for PsychoSocial Rehabilitation (TAPR). and prevent the occurrence of similar incidents. The core principle of "reasonable accommodation” However, the issue regarding the human rights in CRPD should be implemented across the board of persons with mental disorders has become the in response to school closures, remote learning, or focus of public attention. working from home. This is to protect the right to education and work for persons with disabilities. To gather opinions from all sectors, the National The relief measures planned by the government Human Rights Commission hosted a forum on July should also consider the incomes of persons with 9, 2021, to discuss issues regarding the “Treatment disabilities and the special nature of some jobs in System for Persons with Mental Disorders Who order to meet the CRPD requirements on adequate Violate the Law.” The conference was conducted standard of living and social protection. online in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. The conference was held in two venues and The “Treatment System for Persons with Mental Disorders Who Violate the Law” forum was held on July 9, 2021, and the Judicial Yuan, the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Health and Welfare were invited to give a speech. 36 sign language translation and simultaneous After hosting several regional forums and group transcription with subtitle service were provided. interviews, two commissioners of the National Human The representatives of the Judicial Yuan, the Rights Commission would inspect the implementation Ministry of Justice, and the Ministry of Health and of CRPD to ensure the protection of human rights for Welfare were invited, as well as Zhang Li-qing, persons with disabilities during the pandemic period. the distinguished professor of the Department The results would be included in the Opinions on of Government and Law of National University the Second National Report on the CRPD and of Kaohsiung; Zhou Han-wei, the Executive submitted to the NHRC meeting for discussion. The Director of the Legal Aid Foundation; Yang Tian- final version would be made in various accessibility wei, the executive director of Taiwan Academy editions, including sign language edition, braille of Psychiatry and the Law(TAPL); Teng Xi-hua, edition, easy-to-read edition, and audio books for the president of the Taiwan Association For persons with disabilities. Moreover, the publication Psychosocial Rehabilitation, and other scholars would be translated into English and submitted to and experts in the fields of law, medical care, the International Review Committee for reference, to and social work. The presentation of opinions facilitate the implementation of the UN human rights from different perspectives is able to facilitate treaties in Taiwan as well as coordinate government social dialogue as well as to improve and ensure agencies to jointly promote the protection of human the protection of human rights. rights. 37