Taiwan is marking it's 77th Peace Memorial Day. It’s a day for reflecting on the country’s journey to democracy and human rights. But activists say there are still areas where Taiwan needs to improve, starting with its prison conditions.
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00:00 Here, inside Taipei Prison, hundreds of inmates are hard at work.
00:05 Some are making paper objects for companies that contract labor out to the prison, while
00:11 others are in the kitchen, preparing a tofu dish that's become a business success.
00:16 This is one of a string of prisons that have developed specialized products, from baked
00:20 goods and soy sauce to pottery, as part of a rehabilitation program.
00:24 Inmates learn skills prison authorities say will help them get jobs on the outside once
00:28 their sentences are up.
00:30 The inmates are paid.
00:32 Forced labor is illegal in Taiwan.
00:53 The percentage that ends up in inmates' pockets today is much higher than it once was.
00:58 Until the summer of 2022, just a little under 38% of earnings went to them.
01:04 But the amount inmates earn is still far below what they need to support themselves in prison.
01:08 Meanwhile, the monthly bill for food, power, and basic personal care items like toilet
01:22 paper adds up to around 95 US dollars.
01:26 Many inmates simply cannot survive without gifts or cash from relatives or friends.
01:30 And though they are still covered under Taiwan's national health insurance system, few have
01:36 money left over for out-of-pocket fees when they fall ill.
01:40 All this has raised eyebrows among Taiwan's community of human rights activists.
01:44 You have to go to the hospital for a medical check-up.
01:46 You have to borrow clothes.
01:48 The car fare is paid by the inmate.
01:52 The prison is far away.
01:54 The car fare for the Eastern prison is close to $1,000.
01:59 So the inmates will try to bear with it.
02:01 Taiwan prides itself on its hard-won democracy and positions itself as a champion of human
02:06 rights on the world stage.
02:08 But advocates for prison reform are calling for Taiwan to live up to that billing with
02:12 livable conditions that allow inmates to focus on reforming themselves and returning to society.
02:18 Luffy Lee and John Van Triest for Taiwan Plus.
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