Taipei, Dec. 9 (CNA) President Chen Shui-bian said Monday that the government will promote human rights policies and measures to build a solid foundation for protecting the human rights of Taiwan's people.
Chen was speaking at a tea party held at the Presidential Office that was presided over by Vice President Annette Lu on the eve of World Human Rights Day.
Chen said that after 38 years of martial law and more than 50 years of authoritarian single-party administration, Taiwan's human rights protection is still in its infancy.
The president said he will work to build a solid foundation for the protection of human rights so as to strengthen the democratic system.
He also said that the upgrading of human rights involves not only legal aspects but also touches on the economy, culture and society.
He said the government will work with the private sector to promote human rights education, training and research, citing as an example that the Ministry of Education has established a human rights education committee and that he will take part in the opening ceremony of a human rights memorial park on Green Island Tuesday.
In addition, a human rights memorial hall is scheduled to open on the World Human Rights Day next year, he added.
The president said that through such persistent efforts, he hopes Taiwan can emerge fully from the shadow of authoritarian rule and that its human rights record will shine as brightly as its economic and democratic achievements.