Taiwan's national human rights commission has come out against a proposal to bring back judicial caning, a setback for lawmakers pushing tougher punishments for serious crime.

• Parliament has approved a referendum proposal, backed by the Kuomintang, to let courts order caning for sex crimes, child abuse, and large-scale fraud. It still needs sign-off from the election commission.
• The human rights commission says caning breaks international rules against cruel and degrading punishment, no matter how much physical pain it causes.
• It points out Taiwan has written the international civil rights treaty (ICCPR) into its own law, so courts and the government are bound by it.
• There is no solid evidence that caning prevents crime better than prison, the commission argues, warning against the "harsh times, harsh penalties" instinct.
• It says the answer to serious crime is better prevention, victim support, and cutting repeat offending — not inflicting pain or humiliation.

Outlook: The referendum proposal now heads to the election commission, setting up a public fight between get-tough campaigners and human rights concerns.