Taiwan Alliance to End the Death Penalty (TAEDP)

The Taiwan Alliance to End the Death Penalty (TAEDP) is a coalition of local abolitionist NGOs and research institutes, which promotes the reform of Taiwan’s penal system in addition to advocating the abolition of the death penalty.

It was launched in September 2003, by the Taiwan Association for Human Rights (TAHR), the Judicial Reform Foundation (JRF), Fujen University John Paul II Peace Institute, the Chang Fo-chuan Center for the Study of Human Rights, the Taipei Bar Association (TBA) and the Peacetime Foundation.

The TAEDP understands that Taiwan’s society has not yet been exposed to a true debate on the death penalty, and that the general public seems to support capital punishment as a form of revenge.
The Alliance therefore aims at creating an open discussion forum for the society on various issues regarding its abolition. It is particularly aware of the need to take victims’ rights into account in penal reform.

Taiwan underwent the world’s longest uninterrupted martial law rule from 1949 until 2000. During that time, 197 capital crimes were introduced in the state’s legislation, 89 of which carry mandatory death sentences.

Since 2000, newly elected leaders have been promising the abolition of the death penalty. The TAEDP wants the reform to be carried out and enshrined in Taiwan’s constitution.

Its advocacy and awareness efforts relies on the participation of prominent opinion leaders as well as visual artists to kick-start the debate on the island.
Film festivals and photographic exhibitions are among the means the Alliance uses to achieve its goals.

Date founded

Structure type

World Coalition Steering Committee member

Contact informations

3F., No. 3, Ln. 1, Zhenjiang St.
Zhongshan Dist
100 Taipei City

Phone +886 (0)2 25218870
Fax +886 (0)2 23951139