Post-Meeting Press Release | Civil Society Groups Visit Hou Yu-ih's Campaign Office Regarding "Judicial Reform Policy"

Judicial reform has always been an important issue of public concern, yet public trust in the judicial system remains low. We believe that all presidential candidates should commit to prioritizing judicial reform and human rights policies upon election to improve the current situation of public dissatisfaction with the judiciary.

Today, representatives from the Judicial Reform Foundation, Taiwan Bar Association, Taipei Bar Association, and 18 civil society groups long dedicated to fields such as gender, labor rights, indigenous rights, rights of persons with disabilities, and environmental protection jointly visited the presidential campaign office of Hou Yu-ih. The campaign office was represented by Deputy Executive Director Hsieh Cheng-ta in receiving the delegation. During the meeting, the civil society groups put forward the following two joint demands:

1. Presidential candidates, upon election, should broadly incorporate public voices, establish mechanisms for open dialogue, and build social consensus on judicial reform and human rights protection.
2. Presidential candidates, upon election, should establish a permanent "Judicial Reform Committee" with civic participation to build stable and effective review and monitoring measures for the implementation of reform initiatives.

Regarding the above two joint demands, Deputy Executive Director Hsieh Cheng-ta stated that various fields, including the judiciary, need to further build social consensus, and Mayor Hou attaches great importance to this aspect as well. The campaign office also considers these two demands to be a positive and supportable direction, especially since the issues raised by civil society are the key to the success or failure of reform. Regarding the unfulfilled matters from the 2017 National Congress on Judicial Reform, the campaign office will also place them under comprehensive control to ensure implementation efficiency.

In addition to the aforementioned joint demands, group representatives also raised various issues demonstrating that the judicial system is still in urgent need of reform, citing examples such as: "overwork and brain drain among frontline police officers, prosecutors, and judges," "scientific standardization and harmonization of forensic science," "comprehensively strengthening judicial personnel's understanding and application of the 'Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women' (CEDAW)," "establishing a national 'Gender Human Rights Museum' and popularizing gender human rights education," "decriminalization of the crime of abortion," "promotion of the 'Anti-Discrimination Act'," "enactment of the 'Convention against Torture'," "strengthening law enforcement and judicial respect for indigenous cultures and customs," "strengthening the right to know and participate in environmental information," and "planning for a public attorney system."

Deputy Executive Director Hsieh Cheng-ta responded that regarding the issue of sexual violence, it happens to be the subject of Mayor Hou's doctoral dissertation, and it is hoped that future efforts will be strengthened from the perspectives of crime prevention and investigation. Regarding the implementation of CEDAW, Mayor Hou has also requested all municipal agencies to carefully submit reviews, and the promotion of gender equality will continue to be a valued direction for Mayor Hou. Regarding whether the "Convention against Torture" can be promoted during the current legislative session, the campaign office will also assist in communication so that feasible reforms can be promoted starting now.

The campaign office also acknowledged that the issues raised by civil society groups all require reform, many of which necessitate cross-ministerial integration and rely on the high authority of the presidency to resolve. In addition, Mayor Hou places special emphasis on the right of stakeholders to participate in environmental development projects, and will definitely review them strictly in the future. Aside from the issues raised by civil society groups, the campaign office also places special emphasis on the "legislation of the 'Whistleblower Protection Act'" and "the implementation of non-disclosure of investigation," looking forward to more dialogue with society and civil society groups in the future.

The vision of judicial reform and human rights policies most directly demonstrates what a presidential candidate's vision for justice and human rights is. We call upon presidential candidates of all parties to explain their philosophies on judicial justice and human rights to the people during the campaign process, and further propose new visions and new directions for reform.

At 4:10 PM on October 25, after visiting presidential candidate Lai Ching-te, the civil society groups will also hold a press conference on the 1st floor of the Democratic Progressive Party Central Headquarters.

Location

Xinban Wanping Metropolitan Park (outside Exit 1 of Banqiao MRT Station)

Group Representatives

Huang Hsu-t'ien (Judicial Reform Foundation ｜ Chairman)
Kao Feng-ying (Taipei Bar Association ｜ Standing Supervisor)
Wu An-tai (Taiwan Bar Association ｜ Director)
Lin Yung-sung (Judicial Reform Foundation ｜ Standing Director)
Yapasuyongu'e Akuyana (Taiwan Indigenous Peoples Policy Association ｜ Chairperson)
Tu Yu-wen (Environmental Jurists Association ｜ Executive Director)
Chang Yu-yin (Environmental Legal Association ｜ Standing Director)
Liu Pei-wei (Taiwan Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers ｜ Executive Director)
Tu Ying-chi (Taipei Women's Rescue Foundation ｜ Executive Director)
Wang Shu-fen (Garden of Hope Foundation ｜ Deputy Executive Director)
Huang Sung-li (Covenant Watch ｜ Policy Center Director)
Chang Che-cheng (National Union of the R.O.C. Disabled ｜ R&D Specialist)
Tso Hsin-ping (National Youth Association for Rights and Welfare Promotion ｜ PR & Advocacy Specialist)

Press Contacts

Lu Cheng-yen, Attorney-at-Law, Director of the Legal Policy Department, Judicial Reform Foundation
Telephone: 02-2523-1178#37
Email: elvin@jrf.org.tw