Shining Light into Dark Corners openness as well as expand their connections with the civic society. They should cooperate with front-line human rights workers and nongovernment organizations (NGOs) in particular to learn about actual human rights issues in their local society from a civilian perspective. Such communication and dialogue can also help national human rights bodies adopt measures to prevent more serious human rights problems in the future. At the same time, national human rights bodies can provide information to the civic What is the Hub? In the IT sector, a hub is a relay with multiple ports. The “Social Dialogue - Human Rights Exchange Hub” series of forums was therefore held by the NRHC in order to become a platform for international and local exchanges. Conversations with civilian groups related to each human rights issue helped to connect the requirements of international human rights conventions with local human rights issues in the hopes of creating new outputs. society as well. These include the mechanisms available for resolving such problems, adopting a broader view to human rights topics, or enhancing of professional knowledge in certain fields. Become the Bridge between the Government and the Public The democratization of Taiwan built up strong support for human rights issues in the civic society. Taiwan’s growing number of NGOs not only Children's session of the Human Rights Exchange Hub on April 21, 2021 keep watch on government agencies but are also Human Rights Issue 5 an important partner in the government’s efforts to Human Rights Exchange Hub Promoting Social Dialogue improve human rights protections. The NHRC launched the “Social Dialogue Human Rights Exchange Hub” project in March 2021. The NHRC members engaged with Planning and Hosting of Human Rights Exchange Hub Sessions Sessions were planned and held for women and gender, children and youths, labor, new immigrants, indigenous people, and housing justice for young people (the last three sessions were postponed due to COVID-19) from March 2021 onwards. For each session, up to 20 NGOs were invited to take part in the dialogue. The human rights issues of concern to each group and their policy recommendations as well as the opinions of civilian experts were compiled by the NHRC to serve as background information or a reference for preparing independent opinions for national reports submitted by the government, launching national inquiries, research into human rights issues, or the opening of new investigations in the future. NGOs through face-to-face interactive forums T to introduce them to the organization, statutory he Universal Declaration of Human Rights rights protections by governments represented a role and activities of the NHRC. NGOs were (UDHR) passed by the United Nations in 1948 new stage in the international development of also invited to state the human rights issues that human rights. they are currently focused on and offer their set out common and equal rights applicable to all mankind. It pioneered the protection of universal 38 suggestions on related policies. After each forum, human rights through international law by the UN Nevertheless, the effectiveness of international highlights from NGO statements were compiled after World War II. The International Covenant conventions as guiding principles for the protection by the NHRC. These provide an important on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the of human rights by governments is hobbled if their reference for the opening of future investigations, International Covenant on Economic, Social and articles have no connection with local human rights national inquiries, policy research on human Cultural Rights (ICESCR) passed by the UN in issues in each country. The UN Paris Principles rights issues, and the compiling of independent 1966 are known as the “Two Covenants.” The therefore emphasize the need for national human opinions for national reports submitted by the establishment of international covenants on human rights bodies monitoring the implementation of government in accordance with the provisions of rights that govern the implementation of human human rights conventions to embrace diversity and international human rights treaties. The NHRC hoped that the “Social Dialogue Human Rights Exchange Hub” project will open the door for discussions with local NGOs in Taiwan, promote cooperation between the NHRC and civilian groups, as well as promote openness and diversity in the national human rights body in accordance with the UN Paris Principles. The NHRC will then become a bridge between human rights groups and government agencies. 39