This petition is part of a series of civil actions aimed at ending the unlawful Mandarin-only policy imposed during Taiwan's authoritarian era (1946-1991).
In November 2024, human rights activist Huang Wen-hsiung (Peter Ng) and Pastor Omi Wilang formally reported the illegality of the Mandarin-only policy to the National Human Rights Commission of the Control Yuan. In 2025, Control Yuan Commissioner Kao Yung-cheng formally opened an investigation and convened an expert consultation meeting, inviting National Taiwan University history professor Chou Wan-yao, linguistics professor Chiang Wen-yu, and Tân Hong-hūi, executive director of the Lí Kang-Khioh Tâi-gí Foundation, to participate. Later in 2025, six civic groups, including the Taiwan Citizen Participation Association, joined the Covenants Watch alliance to jointly publish a parallel report, emphasizing that language equality is not only a matter of cultural preservation but, more importantly, a political right.
In May 2026, as Taiwan's Ministry of Justice planned an international conference to review the implementation status of the two covenants, and the Control Yuan's investigation report was due before the July deadline, civic groups launched a petition drive. Initiated by 36 domestic and international human rights organizations, parent-child learning groups, and pro-Taiwan organizations on 1st May 2026, the petition demonstrates the determination of all sectors of society to end the "Mandarin hegemony." It demands that the government stop forcing children to receive exclusive Mandarin education and allow citizens to use thier own national languages in public domains, such as the military and national civil service examinations.
After this petition concludes, a formal letter will be sent to the competent authority in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act, demanding that the government act in accordance with the law and abolish the authoritarian linguistic legacy (the government is legally obligated to respond). If the government continues to violate the law, the civic groups will consider filing an administrative appeal and taking stronger action.
