The Australia-based Asia Pacific Forum of National Human Rights Institutions has won Taiwan’s 15th Asia Democracy and Human Rights Award.
Every year since 2006, the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy has been handing out the award to recognize organizations that contribute to peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region.
Taiwan Foundation for Democracy’s Chairman Yu Shyi-kun says democratic movements have stalled this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He says that human rights work currently faces unprecedented challenges. Yu says that the Asia Democracy and Human Rights Award is an honor granted to organizations based on tangible indicators that show improvements to regional democracy and peace. He says Taiwan is honored to be able to offer such a prestigious award to sustain democracy in Asia.
Yu says that this year’s winner not only promotes democratic ideals in Australia, it also works to help develop democracy in other countries in the Asia-Pacific region. He says that’s impressive, because different places face different cultural, societal, and political circumstances.