In its most recent report on human rights, Amnesty International applauded Taiwan's efforts to abolish capital punishment and called for a moratorium on executions until the death penalty is officially wiped out.
A pledge by Minister of Justice Chen Ding-nan (
In light of the time-consuming legal process of abolishing the death sentence, the spokesman urged Taiwan to put a moratorium on executions until such a time that the punishment is formally rescinded.
Amnesty, however, expressed regret in its annual report, released on Wednesday, that President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) had failed to carry out reforms vital to the protection of human rights, despite his promises to improve the country's human rights situation.
In its report on 140 states around the world, the human rights watchdog noted that Chen is Taiwan's first dissident-turned-president and that his administration boasts several former political prisoners.
Although Chen has called for advice from Amnesty and has set up a national human rights committee, he has had difficulty in pushing his reforms through the opposition-controlled legislature.
Political and economic disturbances following Chen's inauguration have complicated his ability to deliver on his campaign promises regarding human rights, according to the report.
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