Human Rights for Legal Defenders: A Modest Appeal Amidst State Repression — Civil Society Press Conference in Solidarity with Chinese Human Rights Lawyers

One of the voices China fears the most comes from Taiwan. If Taiwan's media only engages in self-censorship and avoids criticism, if Taiwan's politicians only remain silent and make no demands, and if Taiwan's people merely self-censor and keep quiet, then not only are we underestimating our own influence on China, but we are also pushing ourselves into an even more disadvantageous position. Therefore, we must stand up! Support Chinese human rights lawyers!

1. Upholding human rights and the rule of law is the vocation of lawyers

• If you believe that everyone has the right to assistance from a lawyer, this is a universal value.
• If you believe that it is only natural for a lawyer to fiercely fight for the legal rights of a defendant, this is the vocation of a lawyer.
• If you believe that in order to uphold human rights and the rule of law, lawyers should not suffer or be punished even if they utter words unpleasing to those in power, then we must stand up and let them know our support. Supporting human rights and the rule of law is a matter of right and wrong in value choices; silence is joining the complicit structure!

2. Caring about human rights and the rule of law is also protecting Taiwan

• The Chinese government is continuously and massively arresting, forcibly disappearing, interrogating, and summoning human rights lawyers and human rights workers on an unprecedented scale, which especially warrants our concern and support.
• As cross-strait exchanges become increasingly frequent, if Chinese lawyers cannot even protect themselves, how can they protect those doing business or traveling in China?
• At the same time, we cannot ignore the potential impact that China's continuous decline in the rule of law may have on Taiwan, nor the undesirable example it might set for Taiwan's rulers. Caring about Chinese human rights lawyers means safeguarding Taiwan's legal environment.

3. Chinese human rights lawyers are admirable

• Having experienced an authoritarian period of martial law, Taiwan deeply understands that democracy, human rights, and the rule of law are secured through the continuous and successive struggles of visionary individuals, rather than falling from the sky or being granted as charity by authoritarian rulers.
• The Chinese government is cracking down on the future conscience and hope of China. Much like Taiwan's early democratic precursors, these individuals are not unaware of the potential dangers and harms they face; yet, driven by their belief in human rights and the conscience of the rule of law, they bravely speak what lawyers ought to speak and do what they ought to do.
• Their courage is admirable, and having just emerged from the authoritarian era ourselves, we should all the more demonstrate an unwavering voice of support!

Support Page

Speaking Representatives

Kuo Chi-jen, Attorney-at-Law
Li Sheng-hsiung, Attorney-at-Law
Deputy Chairperson of the Human Rights Protection Committee, Taiwan Bar Association / Ch'uan Hsing-yi, Attorney-at-Law
President of the Taipei Bar Association / Huang Hsu-t'ien, Attorney-at-Law
Yu Ying-fu, Attorney-at-Law
Chairperson of the Taiwan Wildbird Federation (Wild Green-Foot Taiwan Eco-Association) / Robin Winkler, Attorney-at-Law
Human Rights Committee of the Taipei Bar Association / Wang Lung-kuan, Attorney-at-Law
Li Yen-jung, Attorney-at-Law
Secretary General of Amnesty International Taiwan / Bo Tedards
CEO of the Judicial Reform Foundation / Boa J. C. Kao, Attorney-at-Law

Supporting Organizations

Judicial Reform Foundation
Women Lawyers Committee of the Taipei Bar Association
Judicial Reform Committee of the Taipei Bar Association
Human Rights Committee of the Taipei Bar Association
Taiwan Support Network for Chinese Human Rights Lawyers
Taiwan Association for Human Rights
Covenant Watch
Taiwan Jury Association
Environmental Jurists Association
Taiwan Forever
Congress Watch Taiwan
Taiwan Alliance for Queer Promotion
Island's Horizon
Taiwan Association for Children in Need (TACN)
Social Democratic Party
Taiwan International Medical Alliance
Taiwan Association for Innocence
Taiwan Tongzhi (LGBTQ+) Hotline Association
Awakening Foundation
Taiwan Alliance to End the Death Penalty
Taiwan Association for Human Rights / Taiwan Labour Front
Taiwan Labour and Social Policy Research Association
Taiwan Association for Health Human Rights
Taiwan Occupational Safety and Health Connection
Taipei Documentary Workers' Labor Union
Taiwan Falun Gong Human Rights Lawyers Group
Taiwan Friends of Tibet
New School for Democracy
Chinese Democracy and Culture Association
New Power Party
Green Party Taiwan
Tibet Welfare Association in Taiwan
National Teachers' Association (NTU)
Militant Lawyers
Association of Freedom Communication and Media, R.O.C.
Taiwan Wild Green-Foot Taiwan Eco-Association
Taiwan Support Group for Prisoners
Rainbow Sapling Action Alliance
Chen Wen-chen Memorial Foundation
Taiwan Youth Foundation
Taiwan Gender Equity Education Association
Pingtung Bar Association

Press Contacts

JRF CEO, Attorney Boa J. C. Kao 02-25231178