President Tsai Ing-wen delivers a speech during an event held in New Taipei City to mark Human Rights Day Dec. 10. (Courtesy of the Presidential Office)
 

President Tsai Ing-wen said Dec. 10 that Taiwan is committed to safeguarding human rights and promoting transitional justice to redress past judicial wrongs and maintain a democratic way of life.

The first meeting of the Transitional Justice Board was held by the Executive Yuan in September, Tsai said, adding that the EY will take over the Transitional Justice Commission and lead ministries and agencies to conduct its missions.

Tsai made the remarks during an event held in New Taipei City to mark Human Rights Day. The day was launched by the United Nations General Assembly in 1948 and is observed on Dec. 10.

According to Tsai, the Ministry of the Interior was designated by the EY to set up a foundation for compensation to victims of political persecution and make restitution to those who had property confiscated during Taiwan’s authoritarian era.

Tsai outlined how various ministries are working to offer transitional justice; the Ministry of Health and Welfare takes care of victims’ families by healing their trauma and helping them recover from loss; the Ministry of Education drafts guidelines to incorporate transitional justice into school curricula and the Ministries of Culture and Justice work together to raise consciousness of these concepts to all sections of society.

The government has achieved relevant goals over the past few years, Tsai said, citing the establishment of the National Human Rights Commission, its chair Chen Chu’s current visit to France and the NHRC forum on migrant workers’ human rights held Dec. 7 in Taipei City.

The president said Taiwan’s freedom and democracy have come at the cost of sacrifices by pro-democracy campaigners. By facing the agony of the past, the country as a whole will move forward and build a common future, she added. (YCH-E)