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【Translator：Siou-Yao Han】

【Promotion of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) series】

2023-11-16  On the 15^th, the Ministry of Justice, the Ocean Affairs Council, and the National University of Kaohsiung jointly held the "International Conference on Administrative Enforcement Mechanism: Evolution and Prospects." The conference included Japanese scholars and Filipino officials sharing their experiences and the Administrative Enforcement Agency presentation of the "Traffic Enforcement Camera in Administrative Execution." This event aimed not only to review the development and achievements of The Administrative Execution Act but also to facilitate interdisciplinary and inter-agency exchanges among experts. It aimed to enhance administrative efficiency while embodying the spirit of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The conference is being held at the National University of Kaohsiung, where President Yueh-Tuan Chen stated that the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are the core of the university's governance. This collaboration involves the Ministry of Justice and the Ocean Affairs Council to facilitate cooperation between academic institutions and administrative agencies. Together, they aim to actualize principles of fairness, justice, safeguarding maritime sovereignty, and preserving marine ecosystems, embodying the spirit of SDG 14 (Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Resources) and SDG 16 (Promotion of Peaceful and Inclusive Societies, Ensuring Access to Justice for All).

Political Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Justice, Tsai Bi-chung, expressed that with the rapid changes in today's society and the emergence of new challenges, it is crucial to proactively create opportunities for collaboration. This initiative led to the joint organization of this seminar by the Administrative Enforcement Agency, the National University of Kaohsiung (NUK), and the Ocean Affairs Council. Tsai highlighted that the Administrative Enforcement Agency, established 23 years ago, has shown outstanding performance. It has effectively utilized technology in law enforcement, including drones, VR videos, and license plate recognition systems, resulting in the collection of fines exceeding 600 billion NTD. Simultaneously, it has actively exercised public authority while caring for the disadvantaged.

Chairperson of the Ocean Affairs Council, Bi-ling Kuan, mentioned in her address that there has been a surge in illegal sand dredging by Chinese vessels trespassing into Taiwanese waters. Dealing with such matters necessitates collaborative efforts across multiple agencies. The Ocean Affairs Council has actively urged society to recognize the severity of these actions. In May of this year (2023), an international conference was convened, gathering scholars from both domestic and international to highlight Taiwan's determination to safeguard its sovereignty and marine ecosystems. Kuan further emphasized her past proposal amendments about the Sand and Gravel Excavation Act and Law on the Exclusive Economic Zone and the Continental Shelf of the Republic of China. The amendments contributed significantly, from nearly 4,000 illegal sand dredging incidents before the amendments to only seven incidents since their enactment, showcasing their deterrent effect.

Minister Yu-yuan Huang of the Administrative Enforcement Agency introduced our country as a pioneer in establishing a dedicated enforcement agency for public law-related financial obligations. Since its establishment, the agency has actively upheld core values of "justice and care" with "compliance with the law." Not only has it kept pace with the times by leveraging technology to enhance enforcement methods, but it has also extended a helping hand to marginalized communities, demonstrating a balanced approach of strict enforcement and compassion towards the underprivileged.

The second specialized presentation, titled "Implementing SDGs through Administrative Enforcement: Enforcement against Transboundary Sand Dredging," was jointly presented by Director Chou Huai-lien from the Shilin Branch of the Administrative Enforcement Agency of the Ministry of Justice and Colonel of Philippine Coast Guard Johonsan Fabilane from the Philippines. The third presentation, titled "A Brief Discussion on the Potential Future Directions of Administrative Enforcement Delivery," was delivered by Enforcement Officer Zhang Jun-jia from the Pingtung Branch of the Administrative Enforcement Agency of the Ministry of Justice.

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#SDG14 #SDG16