Local authorities operate at the vanguard of civic governance, serving as the most immediate interface through which citizens experience public services. We hold a foundational conviction that human rights must transcend abstract legal doctrines; they must be deeply embedded within daily public administration. The defining mandate of local government is therefore to translate overarching national and international human rights tenets into actionable, localized strategies—ensuring that every individual can claim their right to dignity, equity, and self-actualization.
In an era convulsed by shifting global economics and deepening societal polarization, marginalized and vulnerable populations bear a disproportionate risk of systemic exclusion. In this critical landscape, human rights do not merely represent a moral compass; they operate as an indispensable governance blueprint. They compel authorities to anchor policy formulation and resource distribution in the bedrock principles of equity, justice, and the absolute refusal to leave any soul behind, thereby cultivating a more inclusive urban ecology.
Aligned with the global vision of “Strengthening Local Public Services for Just and Caring Cities” New Taipei City positions human rights as the core catalyst of its administration, advancing public services through three critical pillars:
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Cultivating Cultural Equity: Cultural participation is an inalienable human right. New Taipei City leverages its local museums as hubs for cultural equity, utilizing proactive outreach and inclusive frameworks to dismantle cultural disparities and ensure access for disenfranchised communities.
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Upholding LGBTQIA+ Dignity: Eradicating institutional discrimination and gender-based violence constitutes the bedrock of human rights protection. Through cross-agency synergy, strategic coalitions, and continuous civic dialogue, we have forged a resilient LGBTQIA+ solidarity network that fosters deep-rooted social equity and mutual respect.
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Safeguarding Children and Youth Development Rights: By weaving together civil society, grassroots networks, and commercial convenience store infrastructures, New Taipei City has engineered a seamless, 24-hour social safety net. This mechanism delivers immediate sanctuary to fragile families, guaranteeing the fundamental rights of every child to survival and holistic development.
For New Taipei City, human rights extend beyond conceptual policy blueprints; they serve as the operational methodology of modern urban governance. Guided by these principles, we remain dedicated to sculpting a fair, compassionate, and integrated metropolis where inclusion is a shared reality.
By joining this global vanguard, New Taipei City seeks to project its rich legacy of grassroots democratic governance and human rights milestones onto the international stage. As Taiwan’s most populous metropolis, we consistently pioneer policy solutions in cultural equity, LGBTQIA+ advocacy, and child protection, demonstrating how public policy can be precisely tailored to the collective needs of vulnerable populations.
Through this initiative, we aspire to share our empirical models of mainstreaming human rights into urban administration, while absorbing cutting-edge strategies from peer cities globally. Ultimately, we aim to fortify localized human rights ecosystems and collectively accelerate the realization of more equitable, inclusive, and sustainable urban centers worldwide.
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The Inclusive Museum & Cultural Accessibility Blueprint
Focus Areas: Culture and cultural rights / Inclusion of marginalized groups
Policy Overview: Since 2010, New Taipei City has systematically dismantled barriers to cultural life. This culminated in a 2012 mandate enforcing a comprehensive “Barrier-Free Museum” standard across all public institutions, with the Shihsanhang Museum of Archaeology emerging as our premier incubator for social inclusion. The museum engineers age-specific, neuro-inclusive environments for vulnerable populations, including children on the autism spectrum and seniors navigating dementia. Its signature “Good Morning Museum” protocol opens galleries ahead of standard operating hours to ensure a low-stimulus, sensory-friendly experience. Furthermore, the institution has adapted its archaeological assets into seven “Mobile Museum” curated modules, traveling deep into rural peripheries to democratize cultural education. Benefiting over 17,000 citizens in 2025 alone, this initiative effectively neutralizes historical exclusions, securing the fundamental right to cultural enrichment.
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LGBTQIA+ Domestic Sanctuary & Trust-Building Framework
Focus Areas: Inclusion of marginalized groups / Gender identity and sexual orientation / LGBTQIA+
Policy Overview: New Taipei City maintains an enduring commitment to the architecture of gender equity. In 2020, we solidified this stance by becoming Taiwan's second municipality to enter the international Rainbow Cities Network (RCN), championing progressive gender policies internationally. Following the landmark legalization of same-sex marriage, our Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Prevention Center seamlessly incorporated same-sex partnerships and LGBTQIA+ households into the state protection apparatus. This specialized pivot directly addresses the complex vulnerabilities inherent in non-typical intimate relations, where victims often endanger their own safety or endure silence due to intense privacy concerns or the threat of forced disclosure. By establishing proactive counseling hubs directly within Pride celebrations and queer community spaces, the city provides immediate legal sanctuary and resource mobilization. Having engaged approximately 3,000 individuals, this framework has dramatically elevated institutional trust and brought vital public safety resources directly to the LGBTQIA+ community.
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The “Happiness Safeguarding Stations”: Grassroots Food Security for Youth
Focus Areas: Inclusion of marginalized groups / Youth and Children
Policy Overview: Commenced in 2013 to insulate vulnerable youth from the dual crises of nutritional deprivation and domestic abuse, this nation-first initiative enlists major convenience store networks and commercial eateries, converting commercial points-of-sale into grassroots “Child Rights Protection Hubs.” This operationalizes the core tenets of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, specifically defending the rights to health and survival. Any individual under the age of 18 facing an acute crisis can instantly claim emergency nutritional relief across this commercial grid. Frontline store personnel dispense immediate sustenance, document the intake, and trigger an automated cross-departmental alert. This prompts a coordinated municipal intervention within 24 hours to deliver sustained family care. This paradigm successfully shifts public welfare from reactive charity to a proactive, structural safety net, securing over 96,000 instances of assistance to date.