【美國在臺協會】國際宗教自由報告: 2015年臺灣部分
2019-05-16
發表者:美國在臺協會 |
發表時間:0年0月 |
中文摘要: 台灣部分
憲法保障宗教自由。家事服務人員和看護並未受到台灣勞動基準法的保障,因此依法他們無法享有每週一天的休假。由於未能享有這項權利,許多家事勞工無法參加宗教禮拜儀式。 本年度沒有影響宗教自由之重大社會行動的報告。 美國在台協會(AIT)為提倡宗教自由與包容,定期與台灣當局、宗教領袖、與宗教社會服務團體代表會面。美國在台協會官員就宗教自由議題與台灣官員、學者、及立法委員進行商討,包括讓家事服務人員享有法定休假的議題,以利其履行宗教義務。台灣當局認為這是勞工議題,而非宗教自由的議題。 第一節 宗教人口概況 美國政府估計台灣總人口約為2,340萬人(根據2015年7月的估計)。台灣內政部宗教輔導科在2005年進行的全面調查顯示,台灣人口中有35%自視為佛教徒,33%自視為道教徒。雖然自此之後內政部未再對宗教信仰的人口進行追蹤,但內政部表示此一統計數據大致上沒有改變。雖然絕大多數有宗教信仰的人自認為是佛教徒或道教徒,但是也有很多人自認為既是佛教徒,也是道教徒,還有許多人把其他宗教信仰的習俗也納入自己的宗教信仰中。 很多人除信仰有組織的宗教外,還信奉傳統中國民俗宗教,包括某些面向的薩滿教、祖先崇奉、及動物崇拜等。研究人員與學者估計,有高達80%的人口信奉某種形式的傳統民俗宗教;這類民俗宗教可能與個人信奉佛、道、儒教、或其他傳統中國宗教同時並存。信仰佛、道、和其他傳統中國宗教的信徒,與修練法輪功的信徒之間,可能也有重疊情況。法輪功自稱為一種精神紀律,據台灣法輪大法學會指出,台灣法輪大法在全台灣有超過一千個分支,會員人數已超過一百萬人,而且仍持續增加中。然而當局並未追蹤法輪功會員的統計數字,法輪大法學會也表示由於信眾組織較為鬆散,因此較難正確統計會員人數。 信徒不到人口5%的宗教包括﹕一貫道、天帝教、天德教、理教、軒轅教(黃帝教)、天理教、宇宙彌勒皇教、亥子道、中華聖教、大易教、先天救教、黃中教、羅馬天主教、伊斯蘭教、山達基教會、巴哈伊教、耶和華見證人會、真光教團、耶穌基督末世聖徒教會(摩門教)、統一教、長老會、真耶穌會、浸信會、路德會、基督復臨安息日會、及聖公會等。根據勞動部以及和宗教領袖的對話顯示,台灣545,000的原住民人口當中,大部份是新教徒或羅馬天主教徒。台灣的猶太教徒大約有200人,主要是外國僑民。台灣582,000名的外籍勞工主要來自東南亞,和台灣大多數人口的宗教信仰不同。外籍勞工之中印尼籍勞工佔大宗,人口約有236,000人,主要為穆斯林。來自菲律賓的外籍勞工人數約有121,000人,主要信奉羅馬天主教。 第二節 政府對宗教自由的尊重 法律架構 憲法保障行使宗教自由的權利,所有宗教在法律之前一律平等,宗教自由除為防止妨礙他人自由、避免緊急危難、維持社會秩序,或增進公共利益所必要者外,「不得以法律限制之。」 宗教團體的登記註冊為自願性質。宗教業務財團法人之設立,以捐助不動產申請設立者,其設立財產總額最低數額,至少需於台灣直轄市或縣(市)七個行政區域以上,各具有不動產一筆,另需有基金新台幣五百萬元以上;以捐助基金方式設立者,基金最低標準為新臺幣三千萬元。已登記的宗教團體享有免稅待遇,但必須提交年度財務運作報告。選擇不登記的宗教團體無法享有免稅待遇。 有代表20多種信仰的宗教團體向內政部宗教輔導科登記。宗教團體可經由其地方分會進行登記。個別宗教活動場所雖然可以向地方當局登記,但是很多場所選擇不登記,而以宗教領袖的個人財產來運作。法輪功登記的名義為體育運動團體,而非宗教團體。 宗教組織可以辦私校,但是經教育部核准設立的公私立小學、中學、或高中,不得進行強制宗教教學。教育部核准設立的高中可開設宗教研究選修課程,條件是這類課程不偏袒特定宗教信仰。 政府實務 對於台灣法律並未保障225,000名家事勞工和看護每週一天的休假,使他們無法經常參加宗教禮拜儀式,宗教領袖持續表達關切。這個問題在外籍勞工身上特別顯著,因為他們之中有很多人在台擔任家事勞工和看護的工作。 在勞工自認其權利和利益因宗教因素而受到侵害時,可向內政部和地方當局申訴。內政部表示本年度並未收到任何勞工提出的宗教歧視申訴。 第三節 宗教自由的社會層面現況 本年度沒有影響宗教自由之重大社會行動的報告。 第四節 美國政府政策 美國在台協會針對家事勞工未享有法定休假的議題,與台灣學者和立法委員進行商討。 美國在台協會的官員鼓勵非政府組織、宗教領袖、以及宗教社會服務團體,繼續提倡宗教自由和不同宗教之間的相互包容,並且關注媒體是否出現任何有關宗教歧視的報導。一名美國在台協會的代表,在八月舉行的台灣宗教與和平大會上發表演說,以表達對尊重宗教自由的支持。 |
英文摘要: Executive Summary The constitution provides for freedom of religious belief. Domestic service workers and caretakers are not covered under the labor standards law and are therefore not legally guaranteed a weekly rest day. Due to this exclusion, many domestic workers were not able to attend religious services. There were no reports of significant societal actions affecting religious freedom. Staff of the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) regularly met with authorities, religious leaders, and representatives of faith-based social service organizations as part of its efforts to promote religious freedom and tolerance. AIT officers consulted with officials, scholars, and lawmakers, including on the issue domestic service workers benefitting from a day off for religious observance. Taiwan authorities view this as a labor issue rather than a religious freedom issue. Section I. Religious Demography The U.S. government estimates the total population at 23.4 million (July 2015 estimate). Based on a comprehensive study conducted in 2005, the Religious Affairs Section of the Ministry of the Interior (MOI) estimates 35 percent of the population considers itself to be Buddhist and 33 percent Taoist. Although the MOI has not tracked population data on religious groups since the 2005 study, it states this estimate remains largely unchanged. While the majority of religious adherents categorize themselves as either Buddhist or Taoist, many adherents consider themselves to be both Buddhist and Taoist, and many others incorporate the religious practices of other faiths into their religious beliefs. In addition to organized religious groups, many persons also practice traditional Chinese folk religions, which include some aspects of shamanism, ancestor worship, and animism. Researchers and academics estimate as much as 80 percent of the population believes in some form of traditional folk religion. Such folk religions frequently overlap with an individual’s belief in Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism, or other traditional Chinese religions. Some practitioners of Buddhism, Taoism, and other traditional Chinese religions also practice Falun Gong, a self-described spiritual discipline. According to the Falun Gong Society of Taiwan, Falun Gong membership exceeds one million in more than 1,000 branches island-wide and continues to grow. The authorities do not track Falun Gong membership statistics, and the Falun Gong Society has acknowledged difficulty in accurately estimating membership within its loose coalition of adherents. Religious groups that total less than 5 percent of the population include I Kuan Tao, Tien Ti Chiao (Heaven Emperor Religion), Tien Te Chiao (Heaven Virtue Religion), Li-ism, Hsuan Yuan Chiao (Yellow Emperor Religion), Tian Li Chiao (Tenrikyo), Universe Maitreya Emperor Religion, Hai Tze Tao, Zhonghua Sheng Chiao (Chinese Holy Religion), Da Yi Chiao (Great Changes Religion), Pre-cosmic Salvationism, Huang Chung Chiao (Yellow Middle Religion), Roman Catholicism, Islam, the Church of Scientology, the Bahai Faith, Jehovah’s Witnesses, the Mahikari Religion, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons), and the Unification, Presbyterian, True Jesus, Baptist, Lutheran, Seventh-day Adventist, and Episcopal churches. According to Ministry of Labor statistics and conversations with religious leaders, the majority of the indigenous population of 545,000 is Protestant or Roman Catholic. Followers of Judaism number about 200 persons and are predominately foreign residents. Some 582,000 migrant workers, primarily from Southeast Asia, differ in religious adherence from the general population. The largest single group of migrant workers is from Indonesia, with a population of approximately 236,000 persons who are largely Muslim. Migrant workers from the Philippines – numbering approximately 121,000 persons – are predominately Roman Catholic. Section II. Status of Government Respect for Religious Freedom Legal Framework The constitution provides for the free exercise and equal treatment under the law of all religions, which “shall not be restricted by law” except as necessary for reasons of protecting the freedoms of others, imminent danger, social order, or public welfare. Religious organizations can register voluntarily with the authorities. Registration requires organizations must either be active in more than seven of the nine administrative regions and possess real estate assets in excess of 5 million New Taiwan Dollars ($NT) ($152,100), or must possess total non-real estate assets in excess of NT$30 million ($912,600). Registered religious organizations operate on a tax-free basis and must submit annual reports on their financial operations. Non-registered groups are not eligible for the tax advantages available to registered religious organizations. Religious organizations representing more than 20 faiths have registered with the MOI’s Religious Affairs Section. Religious organizations may register through island-wide associations. While individual places of worship may register with local authorities, many choose not to and operate as the personal property of their leaders. The Falun Gong is registered as a sports organization and not as a religious organization. Religious organizations are permitted to operate private schools. Compulsory religious instruction is not permitted in any Ministry of Education (MOE), accredited public or private elementary, middle, or high school. High schools accredited by the MOE, may provide elective courses in religious studies, provided such courses do not promote certain religious beliefs over others. Government Practices Religious leaders continued to raise concerns that the law does not guarantee a day off for the approximately 225,000 domestic workers and caregivers, and thus limited their ability to attend religious services. This problem was particularly salient among migrant workers, many of whom are engaged as domestic workers and caregivers. The Ministry of Interior (MOI) and city and county-level authorities were responsible for accepting complaints from workers who believed that their rights and interests were damaged for religious reasons. The MOI said it did not receive any complaints of religious discrimination from workers. Section III. Status of Societal Respect for Religious Freedom There were no reports of significant societal actions affecting religious freedom. Section IV. U.S. Government Policy AIT staff consulted with scholars and lawmakers on the issue of a day off for domestic services workers. Officers from AIT encouraged NGOs, religious leaders, and faith-based social service organizations to continue advocacy for freedom of religion and promotion of interfaith religious tolerance, and monitored the media for any reports of discrimination based on religious beliefs. An AIT representative gave a speech at Taiwan’s Religion and Peace Conference in August supporting respect for religious freedom. Previous International Religious Freedom Reports are available at: http://www.ait.org.tw/en/irfr.html |
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