Promoting Taiwan's Participation in the United Nations Through the Employment of Innovative Advertisements

On August 28, the Government Information Office (GIO) released an advertisement-"UNHuman"-to promote Taiwan's participation in the United Nations (UN) this year. GIO Minister Cheng Wen-tsang said that this creative ad aims to manifest universal human rights as well as human rights reform, with the latter being discussed by the UN. This ad, utilizing a reversing effect, like that of a mirror, of the type used in the movie The Da Vinci Code, is intended to make public Taiwan's appeal that being barred from the UN is a violation of human rights, that it is, in fact-UNHuman.

Held at the GIO, this year's press conference concerning Taiwan's participation in the UN was hosted by Minister Cheng, and was attended by Overseas Compatriot Affairs Commission (OCAC) Vice Minister Maysing Yang as well as Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesman Michel Ching-long Lu.

MOFA Spokesman Lu stated that two proposals have been put forth this year to push for Taiwan's participation in the UN. The first proposal, which calls for Taiwan's participation, deals with the issue of the right of Taiwan's 23 million people to representation at the UN and includes a demand for substantive participation in the UN and its related agencies. The second proposal discusses the maintenance of peace and expands the scope of last year's proposal, which focused solely on cross-strait peace and security, by showing concern for the peace and security of the entire East Asian region. These appeals aim to echo the three main areas of UN concern¡Ðhuman rights, development, and peace.

Minister Cheng emphasized that the advertisement produced by the GIO to push for Taiwan's entry to the UN this year combines the notion of universal human rights with the issue of human rights reform currently being dealt with by the UN. For "UNHuman," a reversing effect like that of a mirror has been employed to imply a reversal of human rights that has resulted from the unfair and irrational exclusion of Taiwan from the UN. This advertisement will be run in important print media and as outdoor ads in New York and Washington D.C. in the United States as well as in Japan. As for the campaign for peace, the advertisement, entitled "Embracing the Earth" from last year will continue to be employed to draw global attention to Taiwan's willingness to make contributions to regional peace while calling for the UN to play an active role with regard to the cross-strait issue.

OCAC Vice Minister Yang pointed out that desiring to become a member of the UN is both a shared goal and a consensus among Taiwanese people at home and abroad, a fact readily seen through the voluntary activities carried out by the people every year in support of UN participation. While Taiwanese people and businesspeople living overseas are hardworking and diligent, they also assist with Taiwan's bid to participate in international organizations from abroad. On another note, since many people around the world are still unaware of Taiwan's exclusion from the UN, the nation must continue to strive in its bid and increase the international community's understanding, thus allowing the international community to hear the appeal of the government and 23 million people of Taiwan.

Minister Cheng also pointed out that individuals from the substitute service (an alternative to military service) and students were invited to help create this year's website (http://english.www.gov.tw) for the online promotion of Taiwan's participation in the UN. This input has produced a publicity campaign more youthful and lively than those of previous years. For example, the website's homepage now includes an animated welcome page titled "Free Kick," in which factors blocking Taiwan's entry to the UN, such as "obstruction by China" and "UN Resolution 2758," are included as part of a soccer game played out on the page. An essay contest and online crossword competition are also helping spread the message that Taiwan's entry to the UN relies on support from other countries.

Minister Cheng expressed his hope that this year's diverse, dynamic and creative publicity of the UN appeal would also receive due coverage within the international community.