On the morning of December 10, President Lai Ching-te presented the 2025 Asia Democracy and Human Rights Award to the Indonesian Legal Aid and Human Rights Association (PBHI). In his remarks, he commended the PBHI for defending human rights under adverse circumstances and for linking human rights actions across borders. The president stated that Taiwan has also continued to take action to bolster human rights and that in the face of global democratic backsliding and escalating geopolitical conflicts, safeguarding democracy and freedom requires urgent action. He expressed hope that people from all regions, countries, and parties can stand together and defend universal values so that everyone can enjoy their rights as human beings and the light of democracy can continue to shine out into the world.
A translation of President Lai’s remarks follows:
Today is Human Rights Day, and I am honored to take part in this ceremony. First, on behalf of the people of Taiwan, I want to congratulate the PBHI on winning the 2025 Asia Democracy and Human Rights Award.
I also want to express gratitude to the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy for its efforts in continuing to demonstrate Taiwan’s democratic beliefs to the world. The presentation of the Asia Democracy and Human Rights Award not only recognizes those who promote international human rights values, but also represents the determination of Taiwan and its democratic partners around the world to jointly defend human rights, deepen freedom, and put democracy into practice.
Since the association was founded in 1996, the activists at PBHI have defended human rights under adverse circumstances, providing free legal assistance and consultations to people whose human rights have been seriously violated. They have also continuously monitored policies and participated in legislative lobbying and discussions to incorporate the voices of civil society into national policy.
We have also seen that even when faced with attacks on their character and serious threats to their personal safety and freedom, PBHI members nevertheless take action and record human rights violations. Moreover, the organization also actively collaborates with the international community to make connections with human rights workers in Ukraine, Bangladesh, and other locations, and link human rights actions across borders. All of this is truly admirable.
Like many Asian countries, Taiwan has been through many challenges in its pursuit of democracy, such as authoritarian rule and social unrest, before achieving the diverse, open, and vibrant civil society we have today.
In September this year Taiwan reached a historic milestone, as the number of days since the lifting of martial law exceeded the number of days under martial law, signifying that freedom and democracy have taken root, and are now flourishing on this land.
Taiwan has also continued to take action to bolster human rights. For example, in 2022 we proposed the first National Human Rights Action Plan. This year, we began to promote the drafting of a new version of that plan, for which we solicited opinions from all parties and incorporated various human rights issues.
This year, Taiwan also established its first human rights indicators. By drawing on the spirit of the United Nations and such treaties as the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and listening to the opinions of all sectors, these indicators will strengthen the monitoring mechanisms for various rights items, with the aim of improving the transparency and effectiveness of human rights protection policies and further safeguarding those rights for our people.
In addition, the National Archives was officially opened last month, marking an important milestone in Taiwan’s transitional justice. In the future, the central and local governments must fully transfer archives in accordance with law, thereby establishing a more complete foundation to promote Taiwan’s open government and democracy.
At present, global democracy is backsliding, geopolitical conflicts are escalating, and China’s hybrid threats and attacks on Taiwan and neighboring countries are impacting regional and global peace and stability. This shows that safeguarding democracy and freedom requires that nations take urgent action.
Defending democracy is no easy task, and consolidating democracy requires great determination. The spirit of PBHI and many other human rights groups, who never give up hope in the midst of difficulties, is our best inspiration.
We hope that people from all regions, countries, and parties can stand together and defend universal values so that everyone can enjoy their rights as human beings, and the light of democracy can continue to shine out into the world.
Finally, I would like to congratulate PBHI once again for receiving this award, and extend my deepest respect to all of our partners around the world devoting themselves to democracy and human rights.
Members of the foreign diplomatic corps stationed in Taiwan were also in attendance at the event.
