Taipei, July 1 (CNA) President Chen Shui-bian said Thursday that the inauguration of the Legal Assistance Foundation (LAF) marks a significant step forward in Taiwan's human rights protection.
Chen made the remarks at the non-profit foundation's inaugural ceremony.
Chen, a lawyer-turned-politician, said he is very pleased to see the inauguration of the foundation. "I volunteered legal services to disadvantaged people when I was still a law school student. During my years as a lawyer, I also assisted impoverished people in litigation to ensure that justice was served," Chen recalled.
Saying that the Legal Assistance Act is not just legal provisions, Chen claimed that the law implies respect for human rights and lays out a forward-looking mechanism for human rights protection. "Free legal assistance is a mandatory protection for our people's legitimate rights," Chen said.