INTRODUCTION
Since our establishment, we have continuously interacted with legal aid organizations from around the world in hopes of learning from these developed countries' experiences and incorporating effective new elements into the Taiwanese Legal Aid System. Two years after our establishment, we hosted the first International Forum for Legal Aid and invited 24 representatives from the legal aid organizations of 17 countries to discuss the basis and development of legal aid.
In 2009, the year of our fifth anniversary, we hosted the second International Forum on Legal Aid, inviting 26 representatives from the legal aid organizations of 14 countries to share their experiences and knowledge. The two Forums gave us an opportunity to demonstrate to the world that Taiwan has established a comprehensive system for providing the disadvantaged with fair and equal rights and access to legal services.
This year is our tenth year anniversary. As a result of globalization, regional integration, economic trade, and demographic mobility, every country is part of the global village. Cross-border disputes have increased significantly as a result of these trends. Apart from the government’s diplomatic efforts, legal aid organizations also dedicate themselves to cooperating with governments for the purpose of protecting the basic rights of all citizens.
This foundation will be hosting the third International Forum for Legal Aid with the topic: "Legal Aid and Universal Human Rights Values – Legal Aid as a Challenge and Opportunity for Basic Human Rights". Legal aid representatives and experts from Canada, Australia, England, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, the Netherlands, the Philippines, South Africa, Thailand, USA, and Vietnam are invited to discuss how to implement international treaties based on the legal aid principles and standards established by the United Nation through: (1) international assistance; (2) appropriate distribution of legal aid resources, and (3) assurance and quality of legal aid. These discussions will help us all gain a deeper understanding of the challenges and future development of the legal aid community.
We hereby sincerely invite lawyers, judges, NGO workers, policy makers and specialists, scholars, and students to come participate in this event for improving universal human rights, law and order, and social justice in Taiwan.