The National Human Rights Museum was inaugurated with a series of events May 17-19 at Green Island White Terror Memorial Park in Taitung County, southeastern Taiwan, and Jing-Mei White Terror Memorial Park in New Taipei City.
Administered by the Ministry of Culture, the NHRM is the nation’s primary facility for collecting and preserving historical documents and materials relating to human rights from the end of 50 years of Japanese colonial rule Aug. 15, 1945, to the lifting of martial law five years after Taiwan proper in outlying Kinmen and Matsu islands Nov. 7, 1992. It is also responsible for researching and revitalizing sites where significant rights violations occurred as well as managing the two memorial parks, located at former jails for political prisoners.
Launch activities for the NHRM on Green Island May 17 included a performance by Tsai Jui-yueh Dance Research Institute. Events at Jing-Mei consisted of a dance show by Mobius Strip Theatre and concert by the symphony orchestra of Taipei City-based Shih Chien University May 18, as well as a screening of the documentary “Mom, I Missed You” by late director Hung Wei-chien the following day.
President Tsai Ing-wen said at the inauguration ceremony on Green Island that the NHRM underscores the government’s commitment to restoring historical truths, addressing past injustices and ensuring human rights violations never again occur.
By taking advantage of upgraded resources, the institution is expected to help advance transitional justice and strengthen human rights education throughout Taiwan society, Tsai said. The NHRM also serves as a platform for fostering international exchanges on human rights issues and spreading knowledge of the nation’s development and democratization around the world, she added.
Speaking at the ceremony at Jing-Mei May 18, Premier Lai Ching-te said the establishment of the museum marks an important step in safeguarding democracy, freedom and human rights in Taiwan.
Other significant measures in this regard include the passage of the transitional justice promotion act last year, Lai said. This legislation aims to recover and declassify political archives relating to the February 28 Incident of 1947 and White Terror, as well as promote reconciliation and redress judicial wrongs.
According to the MOC, the museum is the first institution in Asia transforming historic locations where rights abuses occurred into sites for human rights education. In addition to managing the Jing-Mei and Green Island parks, the NHRM also comprises departments for archival research, educational affairs and exhibitions. (CPY-E)
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