The Cabinet on Thursday approved the Ministry of the Interior's (MOI) resubmission of a draft bill on the implementation of the U.N. Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, and its Optional Protocol. The draft bill along with the convention itself and accompanying protocol will now be submitted for the Legislature's review.
Premier Su Tseng-chang said Taiwan had unfortunately witnessed dark periods in the past when torture and cruel punishment were practiced in the country. On the occasion of Human Rights Day, the Cabinet has taken the meaningful step of approving the convention against torture—one of the U.N.'s nine core international human rights instruments—along with its optional protocol, and the bill that will make the two pacts the law of the land.
While the days of cruel and torturous treatment are far in the past, the nation must remember those lessons learned and avoid repeating the same mistakes by creating a legal basis for the convention to be applied, the premier said. He instructed government ministries and agencies at all levels to promote the convention and review and amend any related regulations and measures accordingly.
Premier Su also directed the MOI to communicate and coordinate closely with legislative caucuses of all parties to ensure an early passage of the bill. This will demonstrate to the world Taiwan's commitment to becoming a nation founded on human rights and its keenness in aligning domestic human rights laws with those of the international community.