By Hyo-Jin Paik
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

TAIPEI, Taiwan – In efforts to push forward “a second round of democratic reforms” and further strengthen the country’s democracy, Taiwan’s President Ma Ying-jeou urged civil servants to be mindful of protecting human rights in the course of their duties.

Speaking at a Ministry of Justice’s training program implementing the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, conventions both of which were ratified by the legislature back in March, President Ma asked the government employees how they would feel if their rights were violated. 

President Ma Ying-jeou.  Courtesy of AP. 

He said, “When your rights are being protected, you may not notice it, but if your rights are being infringed upon, you would definitely feel it.” 

President Ma also added, “Not only should civil servants familiarize themselves with the two conventions, they should always keep in mind that current rules and orders do not violate the two conventions.  To put it bluntly, most civil servants have no idea about what human rights are.”

At this workshop, President Ma told the civil servants that he has high expectations that public servants “contribute to enhancing the quality of Taiwan’s democracy.”

Since taking office in May 2008, President Ma has forbidden illegal wiretapping and government interference with media coverage, but he said these measures are not enough to safeguard people’s rights and reduce human rights violations.

Former U.S. President George W. Bush once praised Taiwan as a “beacon of democracy” in Asia, but President Ma remarked that while Taiwan has made progress, sufficiency of Taiwan’s democratization is questionable.

He asked, “[D]o we have a good enough understanding of democracy?  Is our judicial system independent enough?  Do we offer complete human rights protection?  Is our system of law enforcement mature enough?  There is room for improvement…to enrich our knowledge of democracy.”

The Ministry of Justice is planning to review the current laws of Taiwan ahead of World Human Rights Day in December.

For more information, please see:

China Post – President calls civil servants’ attention to human rights protection – 17 September 2009

Radio Taiwan International – Ma to push for “second round of democratic reforms” – 17 September 2009

Taipei Times – Ma calls on civil servants to be mindful of human rights – 18 September 2009