On December 10, 2024, during the “2024 International Human Rights Day Symposium,” Taiwan’s Premier, John Rong-Tai, emphasized the universality of human rights. He stressed that “opposing dictatorship and totalitarianism is an unchanging principle, while standing against bullying and hegemony is the mission of our generation.”
The “2024 International Human Rights Day Symposium” took place on the 9th and 10th at the National Taiwan University Hospital International Conference Center. Premier John Rong-Tai delivered a speech on the afternoon of the 9th, joined by government officials such as Chen Shih-Chung, Lin Ming-Hsin, spokesperson Li Hui-Chih, members of the Control Yuan National Human Rights Committee Tian Qiu-Jin and Yeh Da-Hua, Control Yuan member Fan Xun-Lu, and other distinguished guests, all forming the symbol of “人” (which means “human” in Chinese) with their hands to express their commitment and support for human rights values.
Premier John Rong-Tai pointed out in his speech that human rights are universal values and are the most effective force linking Taiwan with like-minded nations and partners around the world. He highlighted the government’s special emphasis on cherishing human rights, stemming from Taiwan’s historical journey where many democratic predecessors made sacrifices, leading this generation to recognize the increasing importance of their responsibilities.
Since establishing the Human Rights and Transitional Justice Office in 2022, the government has organized academic symposiums on the eve of International Human Rights Day every year. This year’s theme, “International Experiences and Local Prospects of Human Rights Education,” garnered valuable insights for enhancing human rights work and democratic development in the future.
Premier John Rong-Tai emphasized the need to uphold two attitudes on International Human Rights Day – first, to learn from past mistakes and prevent their recurrence, and second, to address ongoing human rights violations to ensure a better future for generations to come.
Referring to human rights issues, he stated that “in addition to the current challenges, opposing dictatorship and totalitarianism remains an eternal truth, while standing against bullying and hegemony is the mission of our generation.”
Regarding the fight against dictatorship and totalitarianism, Premier John Rong-Tai mentioned Taiwan’s 38-year martial law period and the painful experiences many endured. However, he firmly believes Taiwan will not backtrack on its human rights path, as the people and accumulated experiences have strengthened democratic development.
On combating bullying, he highlighted instances of unreasonable treatment towards public servants causing emotional distress. The government plans to establish a complaint reporting platform this week, ensuring public servants receive the highest protection to voice any unfair treatment and guarantee their basic human rights.
Concerning fighting hegemony, Premier John Rong-Tai addressed the frequent military activities in Taiwan’s vicinity disturbing peace in the Indo-Pacific region and the Taiwan Strait. This requires Taiwan to stand courageously with democratic partner nations worldwide to defend Taiwan’s security and uphold regional peace. Recent international events reveal that expansionist hegemonies will ultimately be condemned by people worldwide.
Premier John Rong-Tai stressed that opposing dictatorship, totalitarianism, bullying, and hegemony not only align with the symposium’s theme of “International Experiences and Local Prospects of Human Rights Education,” but must be persistently promoted. He paid tribute to past democratic predecessors who suffered human rights violations and urged everyone to uphold equality and respect to leave a better environment for future generations to thrive.
Furthermore, Premier John Rong-Tai emphasized that bullying exists not only in the public sector but also within parliament. He called for a thorough review of disrespectful and irrational behavior among lawmakers, advocating for a more respectful and rational working environment within the government and legislative bodies.
To address these cultural changes, Premier John Rong-Tai vowed that the Executive Yuan would take the lead, conducting internal investigations and imposing disciplinary measures. He urged society to provide transparent and fair evaluations to ensure everyone receives fair treatment in their work environments.
This year’s focus on human rights education brought together experts like Professor Zhang Wen-Zheng from the Law School of National Taiwan University, Professor Chen Yao-Hua from Soochow University’s Human Rights Master’s Program, Associate Professor Lai Yue-Mei from the Institute of Social Work at National Taiwan Normal University, and Secretary-General Yang Su-Fang from the Human Rights Education Resource Center of the Ministry of Education, engaging in discussions on the practical aspects of human rights education.