The Universal Declaration of Human Rights Day is commemorated every year on December 10, the anniversary of its adoption. Since 1950, this day has been known as International Human Rights Day. Under the guidance of Eleanor Roosevelt, then first lady of the United States, the United Nations General Assembly gathered in 1948 in Paris, where it adopted the Declaration, setting a milestone in the history of human rights. The instrument was drafted by representatives from all regions of the world, with a wide range of legal and cultural backgrounds. Based on the introspection that followed World War II, it consists of 30 articles and has been subsequently translated into over 500 languages. Affirming fundamental human rights worldwide for the first time ever, this instrument was a great achievement for all peoples and all nations. The articles have been elaborated upon in subsequent international treaties, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR). These instruments were completed in 1966 and entered into force in 1976, setting the standard for international law and affecting all people worldwide.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs hopes to improve awareness of human rights issues and advance legislation, regulations, policies, and measures that conform to international standards and trends. In 2018, five internationally renowned experts were invited to visit Taiwan to review its third report on progress in implementing the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW). Taiwan's progress has helped promote women's rights domestically and human rights diplomacy internationally, and such reviews give the international community a better understanding of Taiwan's progress.
Taiwan promulgated the Act to Implement the ICCPR and the ICESCR in 2009. Since then, it has published two National Reports on its implementation of the ICCPR and ICESCR, one National Report each on the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the Convention on the Rights of the Child, and three National Reports on CEDAW. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs invited human rights experts and representatives of international human rights organizations to review the implementation of these covenants and provide recommendations in related press conferences. The United Nations Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment; the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families; and the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination are now being incorporated into domestic law. Such covenants help Taiwan promote bilateral cooperation on related human rights issues, highlight its visibility on the international stage, and promote human rights diplomacy.
＃International Human Rights Day
＃Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR)
＃International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR)