Human Rights Commission Calls for Extending Mental Health Adjustment Leave to Laborers in CRPD Evaluation Opinion
Taiwan's National Human Rights Commission has released its independent evaluation of the CRPD report, expressing concern over the rising number of abuse cases involving persons with disabilities and recommending that 'mental and physical adjustment leave,' currently limited to students and civil servants, be extended to general laborers.
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- 📰 Published: May 14, 2026 at 17:10
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Central News Agency, Taipei, 14th — The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) today released its independent evaluation opinion on the 3rd national report on the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), expressing concern for children in out-of-home care and the annually increasing rate of persons with disabilities becoming victims in domestic violence and sexual assault cases. It recommended that the Executive Yuan formulate a national strategy and action plan, and prudently consider extending the applicability of mental and physical adjustment leave to general laborers.
Today, the NHRC held a press conference to release the independent evaluation opinion on the CRPD 3rd national report, attended by NHRC Vice-Chairperson Chi Hui-jung, and Commissioners Wang Jung-chang, Yeh Ta-hua, and Wang Yu-ling.
Wang Jung-chang pointed out that according to the Organic Act of the Control Yuan National Human Rights Commission, the NHRC can write independent evaluation opinions on national reports submitted by government agencies under various human rights conventions. He expressed hope that this would allow all sectors to understand the implementation of human rights for persons with disabilities in Taiwan, especially the situation of groups with intersecting identities like children and women with disabilities, and prompt the government to address structural problems.
Regarding the situation of children and women with disabilities, Yeh Ta-hua stated that among children in out-of-home care in Taiwan, the number of children with special needs holding a disability certificate has been increasing annually, accounting for 14.79% of the total in 2021 and 22.04% in 2024. Furthermore, among placed children with special needs, about 27% in 2023 were placed in adult institutions such as nursing homes and long-term care facilities, and this number is also increasing year by year.
Yeh Ta-hua recommended that the government actively investigate the reasons for the increase in the number of children with disabilities in out-of-home care, comprehensively review whether special needs children placed in adult institutions are receiving appropriate alternative care measures, and establish quality assessment indicators for out-of-home care services for children with disabilities.
Yeh Ta-hua also explained that in various types of protection-reported cases such as domestic violence, sexual assault, and child protection incidents, the proportion of victims who are persons with disabilities is increasing annually. She requested the government to incorporate relevant CRPD human rights indicators into the formulation of national plans or policies, and also to include supervision and inspection of all institutions that serve persons with disabilities.
Yeh Ta-hua mentioned that, in addition, 62 cases of long-term care-related homicides occurred from 2018 to 2024, highlighting the structural difficulties of the long-term care system and family support mechanisms. However, persons with disabilities should enjoy the right to life on an equal basis with others. She suggested that the government prudently evaluate legislative amendments with reference to CRPD human rights indicators, and should strengthen long-term care, improve respite services, and psychological support measures.
Wang Yu-ling then spoke about the low labor participation rate and high unemployment rate of persons with disabilities, which require improvement strategies. In addition, the current mental and physical adjustment leave only applies to civil servants and has not been extended to general laborers, meaning most persons with disabilities are still not eligible. She recommended that the government prudently consider expanding the applicability of mental and physical adjustment leave to general laborers.
Wang Jung-chang concluded by recommending that the Executive Yuan, referencing the experiences of other state parties, should establish a national strategy and action plan covering all rights under the CRPD. Furthermore, human rights impact assessments should be conducted for all laws and major policies involving the rights of persons with disabilities.
Wang Jung-chang emphasized that he recommends the Legislative Yuan amend the 'CRPD Implementation Act' and ensure the independence of the NHRC's budget, personnel, and operations in accordance with the Paris Principles. He also suggested that the Judicial Yuan amend the guidelines for access to justice for persons with disabilities, and called on the Examination Yuan to ensure the rights of civil servants with disabilities and the right of persons with disabilities to participate equally in national examinations. (Editor: Chang Jo-yao) 1150514
Today, the NHRC held a press conference to release the independent evaluation opinion on the CRPD 3rd national report, attended by NHRC Vice-Chairperson Chi Hui-jung, and Commissioners Wang Jung-chang, Yeh Ta-hua, and Wang Yu-ling.
Wang Jung-chang pointed out that according to the Organic Act of the Control Yuan National Human Rights Commission, the NHRC can write independent evaluation opinions on national reports submitted by government agencies under various human rights conventions. He expressed hope that this would allow all sectors to understand the implementation of human rights for persons with disabilities in Taiwan, especially the situation of groups with intersecting identities like children and women with disabilities, and prompt the government to address structural problems.
Regarding the situation of children and women with disabilities, Yeh Ta-hua stated that among children in out-of-home care in Taiwan, the number of children with special needs holding a disability certificate has been increasing annually, accounting for 14.79% of the total in 2021 and 22.04% in 2024. Furthermore, among placed children with special needs, about 27% in 2023 were placed in adult institutions such as nursing homes and long-term care facilities, and this number is also increasing year by year.
Yeh Ta-hua recommended that the government actively investigate the reasons for the increase in the number of children with disabilities in out-of-home care, comprehensively review whether special needs children placed in adult institutions are receiving appropriate alternative care measures, and establish quality assessment indicators for out-of-home care services for children with disabilities.
Yeh Ta-hua also explained that in various types of protection-reported cases such as domestic violence, sexual assault, and child protection incidents, the proportion of victims who are persons with disabilities is increasing annually. She requested the government to incorporate relevant CRPD human rights indicators into the formulation of national plans or policies, and also to include supervision and inspection of all institutions that serve persons with disabilities.
Yeh Ta-hua mentioned that, in addition, 62 cases of long-term care-related homicides occurred from 2018 to 2024, highlighting the structural difficulties of the long-term care system and family support mechanisms. However, persons with disabilities should enjoy the right to life on an equal basis with others. She suggested that the government prudently evaluate legislative amendments with reference to CRPD human rights indicators, and should strengthen long-term care, improve respite services, and psychological support measures.
Wang Yu-ling then spoke about the low labor participation rate and high unemployment rate of persons with disabilities, which require improvement strategies. In addition, the current mental and physical adjustment leave only applies to civil servants and has not been extended to general laborers, meaning most persons with disabilities are still not eligible. She recommended that the government prudently consider expanding the applicability of mental and physical adjustment leave to general laborers.
Wang Jung-chang concluded by recommending that the Executive Yuan, referencing the experiences of other state parties, should establish a national strategy and action plan covering all rights under the CRPD. Furthermore, human rights impact assessments should be conducted for all laws and major policies involving the rights of persons with disabilities.
Wang Jung-chang emphasized that he recommends the Legislative Yuan amend the 'CRPD Implementation Act' and ensure the independence of the NHRC's budget, personnel, and operations in accordance with the Paris Principles. He also suggested that the Judicial Yuan amend the guidelines for access to justice for persons with disabilities, and called on the Examination Yuan to ensure the rights of civil servants with disabilities and the right of persons with disabilities to participate equally in national examinations. (Editor: Chang Jo-yao) 1150514