The Dec. 4-16 visit to France and Germany by a delegation comprising members of the National Human Rights Commission has successfully paved the way for expanded exchanges with the two countries, according to the Control Yuan commission Dec. 20.
Led by NHRC Chair Chen Chu, the group visited human rights agencies, parliamentarians and international human rights organizations in the two EU member states to exchange views on policymaking.
In her meeting with Delphine Borione, French Ambassador at Large for Human Rights, Chen shared Taiwan’s experience in the legalization of same-sex marriage and promotion of democracy and protection of human rights. Borione accepted Chen’s invitation to visit Taiwan next year.
During her stay in Paris, Chen met with Deputy Mayor Jean-Luc Romero-Michel and representatives of several international non-governmental organizations to discuss issues such as gender equality and abolishment of the death penalty.
Chen’s itinerary in France also included meeting with Senator Alain Richard, Elodie Jacquier-Laforge and Mireille Clapot, the latter both members of the French National Assembly, as well as delivering a speech and attending a banquet at the French Academy.
While in Berlin, Chen visited the German Bundestag’s Committee on Human Rights and Humanitarian Aid and detailed Taiwan’s policy progress. She also took part in a Q&A session involving cross-party parliamentarians.
Those attending all commended the government’s work in ensuring human rights protection and added that therefore Taiwan deserved more recognition and meaningful global participation.
Other highlights of the group’s itinerary in Germany included visiting the Federal Foundation for the Study of the Communist Dictatorship in Eastern Germany; meeting with Luise Amtsberg, Federal Government Commissioner for Human Rights Policy and Humanitarian Assistance, and Evelyn Zupke, renowned democracy activist; as well as touring the Berlin-Hohenschonhausen Memorial. (SFC-E)
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