Ministry of Education and Global Campus of Human Rights Sign MOU to Deepen Human Rights and International Exchange

(CNA, Taipei, May 18, by reporter Kao Hua-chien) The Executive Yuan stated that the Ministry of Education today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Global Campus of Human Rights (GCHR). This will not only help domestic universities establish more institutionalized exchange channels with GCHR and its regional networks but also promote the participation of Taiwanese youth, teachers, and researchers in international human rights education, short-term courses, research exchanges, and related cooperation projects. The Executive Yuan announced via a press release that it held the "International Cooperation and Exchange Workshop on Human Rights Education" today, inviting GCHR Secretary-General Manfred Nowak, representatives from the Ministry of Education, and several domestic universities to discuss cooperation directions between Taiwan's higher education and international human rights education networks. The Executive Yuan said that during the meeting, Li Yu-chuan, Director-General of the Department of International and Cross-strait Education of the Ministry of Education, and Nowak signed the MOU on behalf of both parties, symbolizing a new stage for Taiwan's promotion of international cooperation in human rights education. The Executive Yuan stated that GCHR has long been committed to connecting universities and human rights education institutions worldwide, promoting human rights research, teaching, and cross-regional exchanges, making it a crucial international human rights education network. In recent years, Taiwan has continuously promoted its National Human Rights Action Plan, evaluated the effectiveness of human rights education and training, and various human rights governance mechanisms, while actively expanding cooperation with international human rights education institutions. Executive Yuan Minister without Portfolio Lin Ming-hsin stated in his speech that human rights education is an important foundation for deepening human rights protection in a democratic society, and the cultivation of a human rights culture requires the joint participation of the education system, academic community, and civil society. Many universities in Taiwan have already accumulated rich energy in various fields. In the future, the Executive Yuan will work with the Ministry of Education and various universities to help Taiwan's higher education establish closer cooperation with GCHR and its international network, cultivate human rights talent with an international perspective and practical skills, and allow Taiwan's human rights experience to be seen by more international partners. The Ministry of Education stated that through this cooperation, it will continue to work with the Executive Yuan and domestic universities to devise specific implementation methods, including encouraging universities to participate in international courses, faculty and student exchanges, short-term workshops, research cooperation, and other cooperation models that align with the developmental characteristics of the schools, thereby gradually expanding the international visibility of Taiwan's higher education in the field of human rights. Nowak stated that GCHR is the world's largest postgraduate institution for human rights education. As the current international community faces democratic backsliding, increased social polarization, and challenges to the post-WWII international order based on international peace and security, development and prosperity, and human rights and human dignity, educating the younger generation to understand and practice universal human rights values is more important than ever. Nowak said he was pleased to see the Taiwanese government and universities actively promoting human rights education and looked forward to further deepening cooperation between Taiwan's academic community and GCHR. In the future, both sides will continue to discuss specific cooperation projects based on existing exchanges, allowing universities, students, and researchers in Taiwan more opportunities to participate in international human rights education and practical exchanges. (Editor: Hsieh Chia-chen) 1150518