The fifth Taiwan-EU Human Rights Consultation took place Oct. 5 as a videoconference, reaffirming the like-minded partners’ commitment to promoting universal values, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The one-day event was co-chaired by Minister Without Portfolio Lo Ping-cheng, Luisa Ragher, head of the Human Rights Division of the European External Action Service, and Dominic Porter, head of EEAS’ Division for China, Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan and Mongolia, the MOFA said.
Lo and EU Special Representative for Human Rights Eamon Gilmore gave introductory remarks, the ministry said. During the consultation, both sides reviewed recent developments in their areas’ respective human rights and updated each other on policy priorities.
According to the MOFA, progress on Taiwan’s human rights promotion highlighted at the event included the first National Human Rights Action Plan and the Action Plan for Fisheries and Human Rights released earlier this year, as well as the establishment of the Department of Human Rights and Transitional Justice under the Executive Yuan.
The EU welcomed the key measures and shared its experience and lessons learned from the implementation of its Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy 2020-2024, the ministry said.
The two sides held in-depth discussions on such key issues as business and human rights, gender equality, human rights in the digital sphere and LGBTI rights.
Progress in these areas included the implementation of Taiwan’s National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights, the EU’s Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence directive and the Digital Services Package. The two also agreed to continue cooperation under the 2019-2023 EU-Taiwan Gender Equality Cooperation and Training Framework. (SFC-E)
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