To mark Human Rights Day 2020, the Judicial Reform Foundation held the Taiwan premiere of the documentary "One Country, Through Tortures" on December 10.

"One Country, Through Torture" documents the experiences of torture endured by four Chinese activists-Hsieh Wen-Fei, Chang Sheng-Yu, Chen Yun-Fei, and Liu Ping. It also invites people in Hong Kong, including Figo Chan, Li On-Yin, Jackie Chen, and Fernando Cheung, to experience simulated devices and reflect on related forms of abuse. Through the film, we hope to show that human rights, the rule of law, and democracy are mutually indispensable in the development of a civilized society. Under authoritarian rule, the rule of law cannot genuinely flourish, much less the protection of human rights. In that spirit, we recall the Universal Declaration of Human Rights:

Article 1: All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.
Article 5: No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.
Article 7: All are equal before the law and are entitled without any discrimination to equal protection of the law.
Article 9: No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention or exile.
Article 14: Everyone has the right to seek and to enjoy in other countries asylum from persecution.
Articles 18-21: Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; freedom of opinion and expression; freedom of peaceful assembly and association; and the right to take part in the government of their country, directly or through freely chosen representatives.

Through the film, we argue that people everywhere share a common stake in resisting authoritarianism. In the face of abusive state power, solidarity across borders is essential. We also call on people in Taiwan and around the world to continue paying attention to those who have suffered these abuses.