Premier Lai Ching-te received a briefing at today's Cabinet meeting by the Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW) on the concluding observations of the review meeting of Taiwan's initial report under the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), as well as next steps.
The premier said that the MOHW's preparation of the initial report as required by the Act to Implement the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, together with the organization of the international review meeting based on procedures followed by the U.N. in evaluating the reports of other nations, served as an announcement to the international community of Taiwan's commitment to abide by the CRPD as adopted by the U.N. The MOHW's efforts also highlighted Taiwan's many achievements throughout years of work to protect the rights and interests of the physically and mentally disabled, as well as the government's resolve to actively engage with the world on the topic of human rights.
International human rights experts put forward a total of 85 concluding observations at the review meeting for Taiwan's initial CRPD report. Premier Lai instructed all ministries and agencies to adhere closely to all follow-up oversight and evaluation measures and schedules prepared by the MOHW, and take the initiative to conduct reviews and make improvements as quickly as possible. Implementation and execution at the local government level should also be coordinated in order to perfect the work done to guarantee the rights and interests of the disabled and move Taiwan squarely in the direction of expanded human rights.
The MOHW indicated that the review meeting for Taiwan's initial report under the CRPD took place from October 30 to November 1 at the National Taiwan University Hospital International Convention Center. The review panel of international experts engaged in a constructive dialogue with the event's many participants, among them officials from 26 government organizations, ministries and agencies—including the Judicial Yuan, Control Yuan, and Examination Yuan—as well as about 160 individuals and representatives of non-governmental organizations.