The sixth European Union-Taiwan Human Rights Consultations were held on 9 June in Brussels.

The consultations, held in an open and constructive atmosphere, provided an opportunity to review recent developments and to update on respective policies and priorities for action. The EU and Taiwan reiterated their firm commitment to promoting and protecting human rights, democracy, and the rule of law.

The EU informed Taiwan about the ongoing Midterm Review of the Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy 2020-2024, the recently adopted anti-corruption package and developments on accountability, among others. Taiwan shared information concerning their first National Human Rights Action Plan for the period 2022-2024, as well as National Action Plan on Fisheries and Human Rights (2022-2025).

The EU reaffirmed its longstanding opposition to the death penalty and called upon Taiwan to pursue efforts towards its abolition.

The EU and Taiwan also discussed specific human rights issues, such as the rights of migrant workers, especially in the fishing industry, as well as domestic workers, business and human rights, gender equality and rights of LGBTI persons, human rights impact assessment and human rights education.

The consultations confirmed that the EU and Taiwan share similar values and principles and a strong commitment to abide by international human rights norms.

The EU and Taiwan agreed to continue exchanges and cooperation on human rights, in particular on those issues raised during the consultations.

The meeting was co-chaired, on the EU side by the Head of the Human Rights Division, Luisa Ragher, and the Head of Division for China, Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan, and Mongolia, Dominic Porter, and on the Taiwan side by Minister without Portfolio Lo Ping-cheng.