Citing what they say is government apathy over a decline in children's welfare in Taiwan, a coalition of more than 10 social groups took the initiative yesterday to form an association to campaign for child protection legislation under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
"Reports have shown some of our children are living in very poor conditions. Unfortunately, we have a government which won't act on matters unless forced to," said DPP legislator Lai Chin-lin (
"Elections are always the best opportunity to obtain promises. And we're glad to announce it worked well for us, as we've had four of the five presidential candidates sign in support of our campaign," he said.
Following its formation yesterday, the association, composed of 12 social activist groups, will first ask both the executive and legislative branches of the government to support the campaign.
Another important objective of the league is to increase awareness of children rights nationwide. Many parents still treat their children as "property" and feel justified in dictating their children's fates, activists say.
Previous studies, from 1997 to 1999, have shown that children's rights in Taiwan have failed to meet minimum international standards.
Child abuse, the reports indicated, is a major contributor to the poor assessments.
"Nearly every month, at least two children are killed by their parents due to a deteriorating marriage, unemployment, or financial difficulties. It's the parents who wanted to die and end their pain, but they take their innocent children with them," said Ku Yu-chen (
"Every child is an individual and is entitled to their own rights. Sadly, most of the parents are not aware of that, and apparently our government hasn't tried hard enough to make it known," Ku said.
Serena Wu (
"I was a mother who once tried to kill my own child and myself," Wu said, recalling her painful decision 11 years ago, when she felt suicidal over the near-incurable illness of her then four-year-old son.
"At that moment, I couldn't bear seeing him -- and probably myself, too -- suffer anymore, so I tried to end our lives by jumping off a building," Wu said.
"But it was at that very moment that it struck me I had no right to make that decision, because it was me who wanted to die, not my little boy, who still wanted to live on."
Since being adopted by the UN in 1989, the Convention of the Rights of the Child has been ratified by more than 191 member states. In addition, some countries which are not UN members have also joined the international convention dedicated to every child under the age of 18.
Aware of Taiwan's pariah international status, the social activists have also considered possible obstacles standing in the way of the country's efforts to join the international organ, of which China is also a member.
Unfazed by the difficulties they may face, the association dpe not expect to encounter the kind of hostility Taiwan has faced in its bid for full membership in the UN.
"Although China has veto powers in the UN Security Council, it has none in the United Nations Children's Fund)," said Liao Fute (
"We believe few countries want themselves to be seen as an enemy of human rights by opposing Taiwan's entry," he said.
A Chinese aircraft carrier group entered Japan’s economic waters over the weekend, before exiting to conduct drills involving fighter jets, the Japanese Ministry of Defense said yesterday. The Liaoning aircraft carrier, two missile destroyers and one fast combat supply ship sailed about 300km southwest of Japan’s easternmost island of Minamitori on Saturday, a ministry statement said. It was the first time a Chinese aircraft carrier had entered that part of Japan’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ), a ministry spokesman said. “We think the Chinese military is trying to improve its operational capability and ability to conduct operations in distant areas,” the spokesman said. China’s growing
Taiwan yesterday denied Chinese allegations that its military was behind a cyberattack on a technology company in Guangzhou, after city authorities issued warrants for 20 suspects. The Guangzhou Municipal Public Security Bureau earlier yesterday issued warrants for 20 people it identified as members of the Information, Communications and Electronic Force Command (ICEFCOM). The bureau alleged they were behind a May 20 cyberattack targeting the backend system of a self-service facility at the company. “ICEFCOM, under Taiwan’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party, directed the illegal attack,” the warrant says. The bureau placed a bounty of 10,000 yuan (US$1,392) on each of the 20 people named in
Nine retired generals from Taiwan, Japan and the US have been invited to participate in a tabletop exercise hosted by the Taipei School of Economics and Political Science Foundation tomorrow and Wednesday that simulates a potential Chinese invasion of Taiwan in 2030, the foundation said yesterday. The five retired Taiwanese generals would include retired admiral Lee Hsi-min (李喜明), joined by retired US Navy admiral Michael Mullen and former chief of staff of the Japan Self-Defense Forces general Shigeru Iwasaki, it said. The simulation aims to offer strategic insights into regional security and peace in the Taiwan Strait, it added. Foundation chair Huang Huang-hsiung
PUBLIC WARNING: The two students had been tricked into going to Hong Kong for a ‘high-paying’ job, which sent them to a scam center in Cambodia Police warned the public not to trust job advertisements touting high pay abroad following the return of two college students over the weekend who had been trafficked and forced to work at a cyberscam center in Cambodia. The two victims, surnamed Lee (李), 18, and Lin (林), 19, were interviewed by police after landing in Taiwan on Saturday. Taichung’s Chingshui Police Precinct said in a statement yesterday that the two students are good friends, and Lin had suspended her studies after seeing the ad promising good pay to work in Hong Kong. Lee’s grandfather on Thursday reported to police that Lee had sent