[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 173 (Thursday, December 13, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2281]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page E2281]]
   COMMEMORATING WORLD HUMAN RIGHTS DAY AND CONGRATULATING TAIWAN'S 
                                ELECTION

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. TOM LANTOS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 12, 2001

  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, on December 10th this nation and the global 
community will observe World Human Rights Day 2001.
  World Human Rights Day provides an opportunity to focus the attention 
of the international community on the most fundamental issue to all of 
mankind. It is a day of celebration for those, like me, who were 
liberated and a day of remembrance for those who still live under 
oppression. Human rights and democracy are like two sides of the same 
coin--it is impossible to have one without the other. The Republic of 
China on Taiwan is an example of a democratic nation which fully 
observes human rights for all of its people. On December 1, Taiwan held 
a major round of free and fair elections in which every office was 
contested and competition was fierce. With the strengthening of 
Taiwanese democracy comes the strengthening of Human Rights for the 
people of Taiwan.
  On the eve of last years World Human Rights Day, President Chen Shui-
bian of Taiwan attended a ceremony at the human rights memorial on 
Green Island, Taiwan. President Chen pledged then to observe the 
Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant of 
Civil and Political Rights as well as the guidelines from the World 
Conference on Human Rights in Vienna. President Chen's remarks indicate 
a serious movement to bring Taiwan back into the international 
community of human rights observers by recognizing the sanctity and 
universality of human rights.
  Earlier this year, Taiwan's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Hung-mao 
Tien elaborated on Taiwan's ``Human Rights Diplomacy'' announcing to 
the International Conference on National Human Rights Commission held 
in Taipei that it is Taiwan's intention to fully participate in 
international human rights activities such as the Asia-Pacific Forum of 
National Human Rights Institutions. Moreover, Taiwan wisely recognizes 
poverty and lack of access to basic social services as violations of 
fundamental human rights. Minister Tien said in his speech in Taipei 
that Taiwan is generously using its economic strength to put together 
an effective set of international cooperation programs designed to help 
developing nations overcome problems associated with poverty and 
underdevelopment.
  On World Human Rights Day 2001, I applaud Taiwan's achievements and 
continuing efforts to observe human rights. I hope that other countries 
will follow Taiwan's excellent example by committing their resources to 
democratization and improvement of human rights.

                          ____________________