TAIWAN | National Human Rights Commission sets up independent monitoring mechanism for CRPD

The National Human Rights Committee (NHRC) held a press conference on 15 September 2021, to announce the independent opinion on the second Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) State Report. Furthermore, NHRC Chair Chu CHEN declared that the NHRC will set up an independent monitoring mechanism as required by Article 33 of the Convention to build long-term cooperation between government agencies and representatives for disabled persons, jointly facilitating the implementation of the CRPD.

This independent opinion used special chapters to highlight the impacts on disabled persons facing challenges regarding medical treatment, schooling, employment, and daily life. In addition, the Executive Yuan was requested to urge related departments to give clear and immediate responses regarding the various disadvantages faced by persons with disabilities.

Prior to the drafting of the independent opinion, 105 representatives for disabled persons and 39 disabled persons and professionals were consulted over the course of multiple seminars and focus interviews. The independent opinion is the response to the second CRPD Report, based on the provisions of the Convention and the Concluding Observations adopted by the initial CRPD report. The opinion is currently being translated into English and will be provided to the international review committee for reference. The NHRC will also participate in the second international review in August 2022, continuing the fulfillment of its responsibility as a national human rights institution.

Source: Control Yuan, Taiwan