DRAPAC24 Taipei

Digital Rights in the Asia-Pacific 2024 or DRAPAC24 aims to foster resilience and solidarity within the digital rights community through a two-day gathering to be held in Taipei, Taiwan on August 18-19, 2024, before the Asia Pacific Regional Internet Governance Forum (APrIGF) on August 20-23. Through the gathering, we aim to stimulate collective brainstorming and forge alliances in response to the evolving digital threats for a unified response to shared challenges in the region.

Similar to its previous edition, DRAPAC24 will foster an environment of co-creation, accessibility, diversity, and inclusion. The event will host a diverse and inclusive group of over 100 speakers and attendees with different levels of experience and a wide range of expertise: from civil society representatives and human rights defenders across the Asia-Pacific, particularly in South Asia and Southeast Asia, to journalists, in-exile activists, academics, technologists, researchers, and more.

DRAPAC24 will feature a more focused but diverse mix of plenaries, workshops, talks, and other activities centering on three broad themes: regional solution-making, empowerment of young persons, and adoption of open technology. These themes complement APrIGF’s overarching theme of evolving ecosystems and enduring principles in the internet governance space.

Venue
The venue for DRAPAC24 is NTUH International Convention Center located at No 2, Xuzhou Road, Zhong Zheng District. The Asia Pacific Regional Internet Governance Forum (APrIGF) will be at the same venue.

Accommodation
If you are arranging your own accommodation, you may choose a hotel or a vacation rental near the event venue. You may find a list of recommended accommodation options available at discounted rates on APrIGF 2024 website.

Taipei Main Station
A central transportation hub, Taipei Main Station has an extensive network of underground passageways that link interconnecting malls and different mass transit services:

K Underground Mall (K)
Taiwan High Speed Rail (THSR)
Taiwan Railways (TRA)

Zhongshan Metro Mall (M)
Taipei Metro Red Line and Blue Line

Taipei City Mall (Y)
Taoyuan Airport MRT
Taipei Metro Green Line (Baimen station)

To get to the venue from Taipei Main Station, you may opt for one of the following routes:

• Change to Taipei Metro Red Line and arrive at NTU Hospital station;
• Change to Taipei Metro Blue Line and arrive at Shandao Temple station; or
• Exit from Zhongshan Metro Mall via M8 (~900 m to the venue).

Taipei Metro (MRT)
The easiest way to get around Taipei is by MRT or metro. DRAPAC24 venue is located near the following stations:

NTU Hospital Red Line
~600 m via Exit 2

Shandao Temple Blue Line
~700 m via Exit 2

Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall Green Line
~1.4 km via Exit 5

You will need cash to purchase single-journey tokens or stored-value cards (EasyCard or iPass) at most metro stations. If you plan to use the metro extensively, you may purchase a travel pass for unlimited rides over 24 hrs (180 TWD), 48 hrs (280 TWD), or 72 hrs (380 TWD).

Bike-sharing, taxi, and ride-hailing
You can also use YouBike to get around Taipei. Taxi service is widely available in Taipei. You may need to provide your destination in Chinese and prepare enough cash to pay for your taxi ride. Alternatively, you may use ride-hailing apps such as Yoxi and Uber.

Airport transfers
Taipei Taoyuan International Airport (TPE) is the main airport for most international flights to Taiwan. From TPE you can take the purple express service (~35 mins to Taipei) or the blue commuter service (~65 mins) on the Taoyuan Airport MRT line. Both services terminate at Taipei Main Station – Taipei City Mall (Y) which is located ~1.6 km away from the venue. A one-way ride to Taipei Main Station costs 160 TWD. You may use your contactless Visa or Mastercard payment card at the turnstile. Alternatively, you may purchase a single-journey token using cash at the ticketing machine.

If you fly from/via Tokyo Haneda (HND), Shanghai Hongqiao (SHA), Seoul Gimpo (GMP), or other domestic or regional airports, you might land at Taipei Songshan Airport (TSA). TSA is served by the Taipei Metro Brown Line. You need to change to the Blue Line at Zhongxiao Fuxing station to get to Shandao Temple station. Alternatively, change to the Red Line at Daan station to get to NTU Hospital station. You may purchase a single-journey token using cash at the ticketing machine.

If you are travelling in a group or have bulky luggage, please consider using a delivery service as storage space on trains is very limited. You may find more information on travel booking sites such as KKday or Klook.

High-speed rail
From other parts of Taiwan, you may travel to Taipei with the Taiwan High Speed Rail (THSR). If you plan to travel from the TPE using HSR (~20 mins to Taipei), you need transfer to Taoyuan THSR station first. The THSR stop at Taipei Main Station – K Underground Mall (K) is ~1.1 km away from the event venue. You may use debit/credit card to purchase HSR tickets using the T Express mobile app or the ticketing machine.

Lockers
You may keep your luggage in self-service storage lockers at these metro stations: Taipei Main Station, NTU Hospital, Shandao Temple, and more. You can pay using cash, EasyCard, or selected e-wallets. For more information, go to metro.taipei.

Code of conduct
Discrimination, harassment, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority are prohibited throughout DRAPAC24. All attendees are expected to observe the DRAPAC Community Code of Conduct at all times. Failure to comply with the code of conduct may result in sanctions including, but not limited to, a warning, temporary removal, or permanent ban.

You can make a complaint to the Code of Conduct Panel. The Panel shall investigate and respond to your complaint in accordance with the Community Code.

Privacy and anonymity
DRAPAC24 is a public event and the organising team will enforce photography consent rules as per the DRAPAC Community Privacy Policy. We will also provide opt-in photography consent indicator on the name badges.

The use of CCTV cameras for surveillance is common in Taipei, especially in public spaces and on public transport. The event venue is equipped with CCTV cameras for security monitoring. You may wear a face mask to obscure your face and use a pseudonym if you are at high risk of surveillance.

To better protect your privacy online, please use Outline VPN provided by EngageMedia and its partners.

Health and well-being
Wearing a face mask is no longer mandatory in Taiwan. However, you are strongly encouraged to wear one in the following situations:

• You are in an indoor setting with poor or unknown ventilation;
• You are in a crowded space where you cannot safely distance from other people; or
• You are particularly vulnerable to respiratory complications.

For more information, refer to the guidance by the World Health Organization.

If you are experiencing flu or fever symptoms, please get immediate medical advice. We advise you to stay at home if you were unwell to avoid exposing DRAPAC24 attendees to infection.

The organising team will provide hand sanitisers at the check-in desk and inside all meeting rooms. A first aid kit is available at the check-in desk. We advise all DRAPAC24 attendees to maintain cleanliness and good hygiene practices throughout the event.

We require all attendees to register online and check in on each day of the event at the venue. Please familiarise yourself with the evacuation routes to the meeting points at the venue. 

Sustainability
You can help reduce the impact of this event on the environment by following these tips:

• Walk, bike, or use mass public transit as much as possible.
• Carpool when travelling on taxis or using ride-sharing apps.
• Bring your own reusable drinking cup/bottle and carrier/tote bag.
• Reduce single-use plastics and choose more sustainable alternatives.
• Clean and sort your recyclables and dispose your waste responsibly.

Depending on the passport that you hold, you need a visa to enter Taiwan. If you are not eligible for visa-exempt entry, you may be able to apply for a visa online. Some passport holders may need other forms for travel documentation.

The following schedule breaks down the Asia-Pacific passport countries of origin that are eligible for visa exemption, online visa application, and exit and entry permit application:

If you need a visa to enter Taiwan, you can request a letter of invitation that you can use to apply for a visa yourself. Further instructions are available in the registration guidance.

Taipei weather in mid-August is generally hot with a temperature of 31~35 °C / 89~95 °F during the day and 28~31 °C / 82~89 °F at night. June to August is also the height of typhoon season. Bringing an umbrella or rain jacket is highly recommended.

The weather forecast for DRAPAC24 is as follows:

Pre-event – Aug 17, 2024 (Sat)
Day: Thunderstorms. High 34 °C / 93 °F. Chance of rain 80%.
Night: A shower or two around the area in the evening, then partly cloudy overnight. Low 26 °C / 79 °F. Chance of rain 40%.

Day 1 · Aug 18, 2024 (Sun)
Day: Thunderstorms. High 32 °C / 90 °F. Chance of rain 70%.
Night: A steady light rain early, then remaining cloudy with a few showers. Low 26 °C / 79 °F. Chance of rain 70%.

Day 2 · Aug 19, 2024 (Mon)
Day: Thunderstorms likely. High 32 °C / 90 °F. Chance of rain 60%.
Night: Cloudy with occasional rain showers. Low 26 °C / 79 °F. Chance of rain 60%.

Post-event · Aug 20, 2024 (Tue)
Day: Thunderstorms. High 32 °C / 90 °F. Chance of rain 60%.
Night: Showers early becoming less numerous late. Low 26 °C / 79 °F. Chance of rain 60%.

Source: Weather.com

Central Weather Administration is the authority responsible for issuing warnings on typhoons, earthquakes, and extreme weather conditions in Taiwan. For the latest weather condition and other meteorology updates, visit cwa.gov.tw.

Hospital
The nearest hospital to the venue is the National Taiwan University Hospital (NTUH). NTUH Emergency Department is located ~160 m on the same road as the venue, Xuzhou Road.

Police
The nearest police stations to the venue are:

Zhongxiao East Road Police Station
Zhongxiao E Rd (~950 m)
Phone: +886223218656

Taipei City Police Department
Gongyuan Rd (~750 m)
Phone: +886223831940

Emergency services
The emergency phone numbers in Taiwan are 110 for police and 119 for fire and ambulance services.

Consular services
You may find the contact details of your country’s consular office at mofa.gov.tw.

Typhoon
In the event of a typhoon approaching Taiwan, the organising team will provide all the necessary updates on this website and by email.

Earthquakes
During your visit to Taiwan, you may experience minor tremors which is quite common and do not normally cause immediate danger. Because an earthquake can occur without warning, you may still be asked to shelter in place or evacuate the building as a precaution. You should familiarise yourself with emergency exit routes and give your full cooperation to the safety and security personnel.

In the event of a major earthquake, stay calm. You should shelter in place, brace for aftershocks, and limit your movements to prevent any injury. If there is a table nearby, duck and take cover underneath it. Otherwise, drop into a brace position on the floor and cover your head and chest.

If you are inside, it is generally safer to remain inside. Protect yourself from things that might hit you, expect fire alarm and sprinklers to go off, and do not use lifts or escalators. If you are already outside, keep a safe distance away from buildings, tall structures, and power lines. Protect yourself from falling debris.

Keep your mobile phone with you and turn on energy saver mode. Stay away from glass or sharp objects. Monitor your surroundings for potential danger (e.g. fire, gas leak, exposed electrical wiring, etc), and wait for rescue services to arrive. For a complete safety guidance, go to earthquakecountry.org.

The official language of Taiwan is Mandarin Chinese. Taiwanese, Hakka, and English are also widely spoken. Due to the regional nature of DRAPAC24, all sessions will be primarily conducted in English. Interpretation may be available in selected sessions. 

The currency used in Taiwan is New Taiwan dollar (TWD). Cash is widely used in markets, at street stalls, in small restaurants, and on public transportation. Shopping malls and larger hotels and restaurants accept international debit/credit cards.

Payment card
Most shops and eateries accept Visa and Mastercard with PIN & chip and contactless payments (including Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay). American Express, China UnionPay, and JCB are less common. Some merchants such as food stalls and small vendors do not typically accept card payment but they may accept EasyCard or LINE Pay. 

You can use Visa, Mastercard, China UnionPay, and JCB to pay for rides on the Taoyuan Airport MRT and the Taiwan High Speed Rail (THSR). THSR also supports payment by American Express. You will need cash or stored-value cards (e.g. EasyCard or iPass) to pay for rides on the Taipei Metro.

Stored-value card
EasyCard is the main stored-value card used for public transit in Taipei (except THSR). You may purchase EasyCard at Taipei Metro stations, 7-Eleven, or Family Mart. You will need cash to purchase a new card or reload an existing one. Some taxis, department stores, supermarkets, and tourist attractions accept payment by EasyCard.

QR payment
The main QR payment is LINE Pay. You can use LINE Pay if you have an active e-wallet registered in Taiwan, Japan, Korea or Thailand. LINE Pay is also supported on the Taoyuan Airport MRT.

ATM/cash machine
You can find 24-hour ATMs at 7-Eleven, Family Mart and other chains of convenience stores.

VAT refund
Foreign visitors to Taiwan may be eligible for a value-added tax (VAT) refund for a purchase of 2,000 TWD or more from an authorised seller. For more information, visit taxrefund.net.tw.

Tipping
You are not expected to tip for services in Taiwan. However, full-service restaurants usually add a 5-10% service charge to the bill.

The standard voltage in Taiwan is 110 V. 

Power socket and plug types A (two flat parallel pins) and B (two flat parallel pins and a grounding pin) are commonly used in Taiwan. Please use your own travel adapter to use other types.

The standard tourist mobile plans are as follows:

Unlimited data on 5G network
500 TWD for 3 days with 3 GB hotspot quota
600 TWD for 5 days with 5 GB hotspot quota
800 TWD for 7 days with 7 GB hotspot quota

Unlimited data on 4G network
300 TWD for 5 days
500 TWD for 7 days

Other mobile plans are also available. You will need to provide your passport to register for a tourist eSIM or SIM card.

Visit the service provider websites below for purchase locations and more information:

Chunghwa Telecom
cht.com.tw

FET
fetnet.net

Taiwan Mobile
taiwanmobile.com