【Article by International College of Innovation】

National Chengchi University International College of Innovation graduate Hsin-Yu Yen, fourth-year student Yu-Chen Cheng, and Department of Diplomacy student Tse Lo traveled to South Korea on August 21 to participate in the 11th International Model United Nations Universal Periodic Review (I-MUN UPR), an international competition organized by Human Asia, a prestigious international human rights NGO, co-hosted by the Korea University International Human Rights Center, and held in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea. The three students were not only the first representatives from Taiwan to participate in this international competition, but also won First Prize and received an award with the signature of the Korean Minister of Foreign Affairs, demonstrating the professional training of Taiwanese youth in international human rights affairs.

The I-MUN UPR is centered on the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) mechanism of the United Nations Human Rights Council, allowing students to assume the roles of national representatives and experience firsthand the procedures and interactions involved in international human rights regimes. Through this mechanism, United Nations Member States periodically review the human rights situations of countries around the world. Participants are required not only to understand the domestic circumstances and human rights policies of the country under review, but also to formulate questions and responses from the perspectives of international human rights norms and comparative practice across countries.

A total of 24 students from Taiwan, South Korea, China, Hong Kong, Myanmar, the Philippines, India, and Kyrgyzstan were selected for the final round of this year’s competition. Participants were divided into groups representing South Korea, China, Japan, and North Korea, and conducted reviews and responses on three major themes: “Climate Crisis and Human Rights,” “Digital Technology and Privacy Rights,” and “Gender and Human Rights.” These topics not only reflect contemporary challenges of international human rights protection, but also demonstrate how international human rights protection intersects with technological, environmental, and social policies.

Prior to the formal competition, participants were required to conduct research on the human rights situation and relevant issues of the country they represented, prepare a national report, and develop their review questions and responses on that basis. During the competition, they faced questions from other participants and were required to respond spontaneously in English. The process tested their understanding of human rights issues, international norms, and national policies, as well as their ability to construct arguments and communicate effectively under pressure. This year’s judging panel included Professor Baek Beom-suk of the Kyung Hee University School of Law, Professor Nam Seung Hyun of the Korea National Diplomatic Academy, and Professor Hong Mi Hwa of the Department of Political Science and Diplomacy at Kookmin University. Professor Baek Beom-suk also serves as a member of the United Nations Human Rights Council Advisory Committee.

The organizer of the competition, Human Asia, has long been engaged in human rights issues in Asia and international human rights education. Its Chairman, Professor Changrok Soh, also serves as Chair of the United Nations Human Rights Committee, which monitors the implementation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights by States parties. For the three students, participating directly as national representatives in a simulated review organized within this international human rights professional network provided an opportunity to connect knowledge acquired in the classroom with international human rights practice.

In addition to the competition, the three students visited the National Human Rights Commission of Korea on August 20, where they exchanged views with Korean human rights practitioners on the human rights protection systems and institutional development of Taiwan and South Korea. The discussions covered differences in the institutional design and operation of the two countries’ national human rights institutions, transitional justice, human rights in the military, gender-related issues, and practical challenges encountered in the operation of human rights institutions.

During the exchange, the students also paid particular attention to the significance of international engagement for advancing domestic human rights issues. Discussions included how international human rights treaties and mechanisms can serve as a basis for domestic human rights policy debates, as well as how domestic non-governmental organizations can utilize international human rights mechanisms for advocacy and bring domestic issues into international human rights discussions. Through direct dialogue with Korean human rights institutions, the students gained a deeper understanding at both the institutional and practical levels that international human rights norms do not exist solely within international organizations or treaty texts. Rather, through interaction among national institutions, civil society, and international mechanisms, these norms can also influence domestic human rights policies and public discourse.

Through their participation in the I-MUN UPR in Korea, the three students were able to bring their studies in international relations, law, and human rights into a practical setting of international exchange. The students also expressed their sincere appreciation to the International College of Innovation and the Ministry of Education’s iYouth Voice Program for their support. Looking ahead, they hope to establish long-term international connections and contribute to expanding Taiwan’s international participation and visibility.

#iYouth voice青年國際發聲及蹲點研習計畫