The European Union (EU) reiterated its strong opposition to the death penalty in annual human rights talks with Taiwan on Wednesday, as part of an agenda that also included LGBT issues, migrant workers and the rights of Taiwanese arrested abroad.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the third annual Human Rights Consultations were conducted via video conferencing, in what the two sides described in a joint press release as a "friendly, open and constructive atmosphere."
Aside from providing updates on their respective policies to advance human rights, the two sides also raised areas of ongoing concern with each other.
The EU registered its opposition to an execution carried out by Taiwan on April 1, and "called on Taiwan to reinstate a de facto moratorium and pursue a policy towards the abolition of the death penalty," the statement said.
The EU also encouraged Taiwan to strengthen protections for migrant workers, particularly domestic caregivers and workers in the fishing industry, to guarantee that they are not subject to discrimination or exploitation.
Meanwhile, Taiwan expressed concern about the protection of human rights for Taiwanese people arrested or detained in the EU, the statement said, apparently referencing efforts by Beijing to have Taiwanese criminal suspects extradited to China.
Taiwan also brought attention to the situation of Lee Ming-che (李明哲), a Taiwanese activist who has been serving a five-year prison term in China since 2017 on charges of subversion of state power.
On the issue of LGBT rights, the EU noted Taiwan's progress since its legalization of same-sex marriage in 2019, the statement said.
The talks were attended by three senior officials from the European External Action Service -- Marc Giacomini, Luisa Ragher and Jonathan Hatwell -- and by Minister without Portfolio Lo Ping-cheng (羅秉成) on behalf of Taiwan.
Source: taiwannews.com.tw, Tang Pei-chun and Matthew Mazzetta, July 18, 2020
Taiwan to mandate condemned inmates wear hoods during executions
TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan's Ministry of Justice (MOJ) is amending rules regarding the death penalty, mandating that death row inmates wear hoods during executions to reduce the mental burden on executioners.
In light of the rules regarding execution remaining unchanged for 17 years, the MOJ is altering some of the rules to be in line with the amended Prison Act, which is slated for implementation on July 15, per CNA.
The amendment removes an original stipulation concerning the controversial organ donation of executed inmates.
Newly granted is the right for the prisoner to record a last will and testament, which is not supposed to exceed 10 minutes.
The right to a religious ceremony in a tradition of the condemned person's choosing is also granted under the changes.
Despite firing squads having until now been the only method of execution in Taiwan, new methods are set to be explored.
Even though lethal injection is included in the existing regulations concerning execution, it has not yet been used in Taiwan due to its controversial nature.
In addition, the draft also mandates that prisoners be anesthetized before execution.
The draft amendment is slated to become effective on July 15.
⚑ | Report an error, an omission, a typo; suggest a story or a new angle to an existing story; submit a piece, a comment; recommend a resource; contact the webmaster, contact us: deathpenaltynews@gmail.com.
 |  |
Opposed to Capital Punishment? Help us keep this blog up and running! DONATE!
"One is absolutely sickened, not by the crimes that the wicked have committed,
but by the punishments that the good have inflicted." -- Oscar Wilde
but by the punishments that the good have inflicted." -- Oscar Wilde