Civil Society Engagement Summary II

This memo summarizes two focus group interviews conducted by the Taiwan team of WP5 on December 19 and December 22, 2025, with non-governmental organizations working on immigration policy, human rights protection, and advocacy. Discussions centered on three themes: advocacy strategies, domestic and geopolitical pressures, and international networking—particularly the EU’s role. NGOs reported that human rights rhetoric is often ineffective in Taiwan; instead, humanitarian framing, highlighting mutual benefits, and integrating migrant issues into broader domestic debates enhance public receptivity. NGOs noted that domestic political constraints—exacerbated by national-security discourse and global right-wing populism—significantly hinder the advancement of migrants’ rights. Nonetheless, international pressure, including U.S. and EU legislation and sanctions against forced labor and inter-state industrial competition, has driven substantive reforms. NGOs emphasized that the EU can act both as an external source of leverage through trade-related measures and as a cooperative partner providing feedback and training programs about human rights. Strengthening reciprocal engagement between the EU and Taiwan’s civil society is essential for improving migrants’ rights.

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