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Civil rights in Taiwan
Friday, Jun 18, 2010, Page 8
On Thursday last week, I read an article about how the world Human Rights
Association lowered the ranking of Taiwanˇ¦s civil rights. The main cause for it
was the support of the death penalty within its borders.
I couldnˇ¦t agree more with Taiwan for its stance on the death penalty, although
the lack of initiative on gay marriage sparks another debate. In 2003, the
Executive Yuan introduced legislation to allow gay marriage, but a majority of
legislators decided not to vote on it and it has since been placed on the back
burner.
A poll of 6,439 Taiwanese adults released in April 2006 by the National Union of
Taiwan Womenˇ¦s Associations/Constitutional Reform Alliance concluded that 75
percent believe homosexual relations are acceptable, while 25 percent thought
they were unacceptable.
This poll shows support for the equality of all citizens in Taiwan. This would
make Taiwan unique in Asia for its support of fundamental civil rights and in
the eyes of the UNˇ¦s Human Rights Council. It would also open the door for the
EUˇ¦s Civil Rights Commission to allow Taiwanese citizens to travel without visa
restrictions.
The balancing of two different issues, one of which allows the punishment of
criminals, the other the reward of marriage between two people who love each
other, lies at the very core of the civil rights debate.
RICK LOPEZ
Hsinchu City
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