Government committed to human rights: premier

Published: December 6, 2001
Source: Liberty Times

In order to preempt Beijing's inclusion of Taiwan in its forthcoming national human rights report, due next year, the Executive Yuan has decided to move up the release of its own National Human Rights Policy White Paper for 2001. Premier Chang Chun-hsiung has directed the Research, Development and Evaluation Commission to complete the report by January 21, 2002. Further, the Executive Yuan has determined that each year's Taiwan National Human Rights Report shall be published on February 1 of the following year. 

With the approach of International Human Rights Day on December 10, the Executive Yuan, following discussion in an interagency meeting, has arranged for Chang to hold a press conference to outline the government's ideal of respect for human rights and provide a detailed overview of the government's concern for various human rights issues. 

In order to demonstrate the government's concern for human rights issues, the Executive Yuan has determined to issue for the first time a National Human Rights Report, to be published at a set time each year. Sources relate that the Executive Yuan is set to unveil its national Human Rights Policy White Paper for 2001 next February . 

While presiding over a Cabinet meeting Wednesday, Chang said that International Human Rights Day on December 10 offers an opportune time to look back on the past year of progress under President Chen Shui-bian's "implement, maintain, enter the global community" and "human rights as pillar of the nation" policies. With these in mind, the Executive Yuan has established a human rights protection promotional task force to actively investigate and formulate human rights safeguards. Expectations are high in society as well, as people look for the establishment of a comprehensive system of human rights protection. In view of this, Chang is willing to reiterate the government's determination to protect human dignity and forge a society with full safeguards for human rights. 

In related news, the International Convention on Civil and Political Rights and the International Convention on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights -- human rights contracts that could help Taiwan boost its global human rights image -- have been submitted to the Legislative Yuan. Chang has instructed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to cooperate with the Legislative Yuan to ensure swift approval and promulgation.