President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) yesterday called on the Judicial Yuan and the Ministry of Justice to step up their efforts to promote judicial reform, saying the government's performance in this area had fallen short of public expectations.
Ma made the remarks at a function marking Law Day, pledging to continue efforts to improve judicial reform and protect human rights.
The president also acknowledged recent efforts by the ministry and the Judicial Yuan to promote reform, such as requiring that a computer monitor be put in front of each defendant and witness during questioning by prosecutors.
Ma said that from his experience of being misinterpreted by prosecutors or court transcriptionists, he recognized the importance of such changes to protect individuals' rights.
Ma was referring to an investigation by the Supreme Prosecutors' Office's Special Investigation Panel into the use of his special funds during his terms as Taipei mayor.
However, Ma also acknowledged there was a gap between what had been achieved in terms of judicial reform and the public's expectations.
To promote a judicial system that serves all the people, the right to life and liberty, to own property and protect an individual's reputation must be taken into consideration, he said.
Noting that the Legislative Yuan had ratified the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (公民與政治權利國際公約及經濟社會文化權利國際公約), and passed the Act governing their execution on April 22 last year, the president said it showed the world that Taiwan had kept up with global trends.
As part of the efforts promised in the international covenants, Ma reiterated his plan to set up a human rights advisory committee under the Presidential Office, which he said would regularly produce reports on human rights developments in Taiwan.
ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY CNA
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