Press Release | Civil Society Organizations Visit Ko Wen-je's Campaign Office Regarding "Judicial Reform Policy"

Last Monday (10/23) and Wednesday (10/25) afternoons, the Judicial Reform Foundation, Taiwan Bar Association, Taipei Bar Association, and representatives from 18 civil society organizations long dedicated to gender, labor rights, indigenous rights, disability rights, and the environment jointly visited presidential candidates Hou Yu-ih and Lai Ching-te, proposing 2 joint demands as follows.

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

Regarding the aforementioned demands, both Hou Yu-ih's campaign office and presidential candidate Lai Ching-te expressed agreement.

Ko Wen-je's Campaign Office Response to Civil Society Demands

Today, civil society organizations jointly visited presidential candidate Ko Wen-je, and were received by his campaign manager, Huang Shan-shan.

Regarding the joint demands of the civil society organizations, Huang Shan-shan expressed strong agreement, stating that if candidate Ko Wen-je is elected, he will definitely fulfill the 2 joint demands and establish a "Judicial Reform Commission" under the Office of the President to promote judicial reform and human rights protection.

In addition to the aforementioned joint demands, organizational representatives also raised various issues demonstrating that the judicial system still urgently needs reform, using examples such as: "overwork and brain drain among frontline police officers, prosecutors, and judges"; "establishing a national 'Gender Human Rights Museum' to deepen gender equality education"; "creating a gender-friendly judiciary and supplementing judge manpower in 'Family Courts'"; "low willingness of attorneys to handle National Sessions cases"; "strengthening the professional awareness of judges in following international human rights conventions in their rulings"; "scientific consistency in forensic standards"; "promoting criminal special miscarriage relief mechanisms (CRCC) and reviewing the causes of miscarriages of justice"; "barrier-free environments and measures for access to justice"; and "establishing a 'Police Performance System Management and Education Training Commission,' and reviewing police and firefighter duty burdens and safety."

Regarding the various issues raised during the civil society visit, Huang Shan-shan stated that the continuous implementation of reforms is the most crucial part. Regarding the aforementioned issues—such as various inconveniences faced by persons with disabilities in courts, practical difficulties of the Criminal Code's "Romeo and Juliet clause," and excessive police duty burdens—if they are issues that the Legislative Yuan caucus can propose and handle, the Taiwan People's Party is willing to support and take action right now. If candidate Ko is elected, he will also take each one seriously and review them.

We consider the positive responses from the presidential candidates of all three parties to the demands of civil society organizations to be a very good start and consensus. We call upon the presidential candidates of all parties to explain to the people their concepts of judicial justice and human rights during the campaign process, and to further propose new visions and directions for reform.

Organization Representatives

Huang Hsu-t'ien (Judicial Reform Foundation ｜ Chairperson)
Lü Shao-wei (Taiwan Bar Association ｜ Judicial Reform Committee Member)
T'ang Yü-ying (Taipei Bar Association ｜ Judicial Reform Committee Chairperson)
Lin Yung-sung (Judicial Reform Foundation ｜ Executive Director)
Kuo Li-hsüan (Taiwan Police Work Rights Advocacy Association ｜ Executive Supervisor)
Liu Pei-wei (Taiwan Criminal Defense Lawyers Association ｜ Executive Director)
Tu Ying-ch'iu (Awaken Foundation / Taipei Women's Rescue Foundation ｜ Executive Director)
Lin Pei-ying (Taiwan Labor Front ｜ Education and Promotion Department Director)
Hsü Ching-chien (Garden of Hope Foundation ｜ Advocacy Specialist)
Chang Che-ch'eng (National聯盟 of Persons with Disabilities, R.O.C. ｜ R&D Specialist)
Tso Hsin-p'ing (Alliance for Promotion of Youth Rights and Welfare, Taiwan ｜ PR and Advocacy Specialist)

Press Contact

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