Taiwan - May 2023

Taiwan's legislature on 16 May approved a change to a law that allows same-sex couples to jointly adopt a child to whom neither of them is biologically related. LGBTQIA+ rights advocates have hailed the move as a significant step towards achieving full marriage equality. Previously, the adoption rules only permitted a same-sex partner to adopt a child if there was a biological connection to their spouse. If neither partner had a biological link to the child, only one partner could legally become the child's parent - a restriction which did not apply to heterosexual couples or single people.

Sources: Taipei Times, CNN, NPR

Taiwan's legislature on 26 May passed the Indigenous Peoples Health Act, aimed at improving Indigenous communities' access to resources and medical care in Taiwan. The act requires regular investigation and study of indigenous communities' health needs, the establishment of a health database, and the training of healthcare personnel. It also emphasizes indigenous representation in healthcare policy and encourages the inclusion of indigenous health content in medical education programs.

In a separate development, long-awaited amendments to the Mining Act in Taiwan were also passed on 26 May, granting more power to indigenous communities over mining rights on their lands. Mining companies are now required to seek the consent of local indigenous people before initiating projects, amongst other things. Large mining projects will also have to undergo rigorous environmental impact reviews.

Sources: Taipei Times (1), Taipei Times (2), Focus Taiwan