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International Review Committee assesses disability rights in Taiwan

Over the last few months, Oliver Lewis has served on the International Review Committee ("IRC") established by the government of Taiwan to monitor the implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities ("CRPD") in Taiwan.

As Taiwan is not a UN member state it is unable to report to UN treaty monitoring bodies. Instead, the government has established domestic mechanisms to periodically monitor the implementation of UN human rights treaties.

Selected as one of five international experts to serve on the IRC, Oliver reviewed two state reports and many parallel reports by civil society. Last week, he participated online in three days of constructive dialogue with over 200 government officials, representatives of the National Human Rights Commission and NGOs.

At a press conference on Saturday 6 August 2022, the IRC presented its "Concluding Observations", an outcome document setting out its concerns and recommendations. The English version of the press conference is on YouTube here.

The IRC detailed concerns across an array of CRPD areas, including:

  • Lack of an equality and non-discrimination law that prohibits denial of reasonable accommodation to persons with disabilities;

  • Insufficient inclusive education that results in learners with disabilities being excluded from regular schools at all levels;

  • A focus on institutional coercion and restrictive practices in mental health settings, and a lack of investment in community mental health services;

  • The development of new forms of congregate care rather than of shifting people from institutions to independent living in the community with support services that meet people's needs;

  • Lack of prevention, identification and redress of domestic violence, intimate partner and sexual violence concerning persons with disabilities, and abuse of children with disabilities

  • Insufficient awareness among the judiciary in providing access to justice for persons with disabilities;

  • Application of the death penalty to persons with intellectual or psychosocial disabilities; and

  • Discriminatory immigration rules that deny entry to Taiwan of persons who have a "mental disease". 

Oliver Lewis provides legal services to intergovernmental organisations, governments and NGOs on the domestic application of international human rights law. For more information, contact Naomi Smith.