Taipei's Heartfelt Plea: Thousands Rally for Child Protection Reform

A call for justice and stronger safeguards for children resonates across Taiwan.

Taipei, Taiwan – On Saturday, May 10th, a powerful demonstration unfolded in Taipei as over 10,000 individuals united to demand enhanced child protection measures. The rally, a poignant response to the tragic death of a 1-year-old boy in foster care due to alleged abuse in 2023, highlighted the urgent need for reform within Taiwan's child welfare system.

Protesters, clad in white t-shirts and clutching white chrysanthemums, congregated on Ketagalan Boulevard in front of the Presidential Office. Their voices rang out with slogans like "Protect children" and "Zero tolerance for child abuse, harsh sentences without parole," echoing the deep-seated concerns of a nation.

The rally, which commenced at 2 p.m., was spearheaded by the Kai-Kai Online Moms Group, a collective of concerned parents and child rights advocates. Event chair, Lee Yu-chun (李侑宭), outlined the group's key demands, which included the establishment of a dedicated child protection agency, modeled after South Korea's system, to streamline efforts between prosecutors, police, and government departments. Furthermore, Lee advocated for dedicated physicians to collaborate with social services and the judiciary to build a comprehensive response mechanism for child abuse cases.

Participants also called for amendments to Taiwan's Criminal Code to prohibit parole for those convicted of child abuse resulting in death, particularly if the sentence is life imprisonment or the death penalty.

Organizers revealed that 84,467 petition letters advocating for reform of Taiwan's child protection system would be delivered to relevant government agencies. The demonstration drew an estimated 10,000 attendees, including Janet Chia (賈永婕), Chairperson of Taipei 101, and other notable local figures, demonstrating the widespread support for the cause.

The catalyst for the rally was the tragic death of "Kai Kai" (剴剴) last December. The child, who was awaiting adoption, was in full-time foster care in Taipei, under the care of Liu Tsai-hsuan (劉彩萱) and her younger sister, Liu Juo-lin (劉若琳). Following the 1-year-old boy's death, the sisters were indicted on child abuse charges, and the Taipei District Court is expected to announce its verdict on May 13th.

In response to the rally, the Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW) issued a statement confirming ongoing efforts to establish a dedicated "child and youth affairs unit," although its specific structure and scale are still under consideration. Chang Hsiu-yuan (張秀鴛), director-general of the MOHW's Department of Protective Services, stated that the unit aims to strengthen child and youth protection through improved administrative efficiency and collaborative networks.

Further updates regarding the unit's development will be announced in due course, according to Chang.