Although the government generally respects the human rights of Taiwanese, there are problems in some areas, according to the latest annual report on human rights released by the US Department of State.
"Taiwan's strides were notable, with consolidation and improvement of civil liberties catching up to its free and open electoral system," the report said.
The report encompassed six categories: respect for the integrity of the individual; respect for civil liberties; respect for political rights; governmental attitude regarding international and nongovernmental investigation of alleged violations of human rights; discrimination based on race, sex, disability, language, or social status; and labor rights.
Despite the government's efforts to instill respect for human rights as a part of basic police training and proscribe against any improper means used against accused persons, the report said that there were credible reports that police occasionally physically abused persons in their custody.
While the government was committed to protecting the rights of all citizens irrespective of their sex, religion, race, class or party affiliation, discrimination against some groups continued, particularly women, the report said.
"Violence against women, including domestic violence and rape, remained a serious problem," it said.
"Domestic violence was especially widespread ? Rape also remained a serious problem, and its victims were stigmatized socially," the report continued.
Prostitution, including child prostitution, also was a problem, the report said.
The courts may also order competent authorities to provide counseling if children are engaged in prostitution of their "own free will" and the parents are incapable of providing safe custody.
Land rights remained a crucial issue for Aborigines, along with social discrimination, educational underachievement, low economic status and high rates of alcoholism, the report said.
"Aborigines have had little impact, over the years, on major decisions affecting their lands, culture, traditions, and the allocation of their natural resources," it said.
Although the right of association is protected by the Constitution, legislation implementing this right had not been passed, the report said.
"Teachers, civil servants and defense industry workers were not permitted to form labor unions," it said.
The Civil Servants Association Law (
While the government has made efforts to eliminate corruption and to diminish political influence in the judicial system in recent years, serious problems remained, the report said.
The report cited an example of a judge in Tainan arrested on suspicion of running a brothel since 1998 and using his position to protect the business from police scrutiny.
The judge was later sentenced to 12 years in prison and deprived of his right to serve in the government for eight years following his release. His appeal is pending in the Taiwan High Court.
Trafficking in persons was also a problem, the report said.
"There were reports of organized crime rings trafficking in a small number of women for the purpose of prostitution ? Small numbers of young Malaysian and Burmese women, primarily ethnic Chinese, were trafficked here for sexual exploitation," it said.
POLAM KOPITIAM CASE: Of the two people still in hospital, one has undergone a liver transplant and is improving, while the other is being evaluated for a liver transplant A fourth person has died from bongkrek acid poisoning linked to the Polam Kopitiam (寶林茶室) restaurant in Taipei’s Far Eastern Sogo Xinyi A13 Department Store, the Ministry of Health and Welfare said yesterday, as two other people remain seriously ill in hospital. The first death was reported on March 24. The man had been 39 years old and had eaten at the restaurant on March 22. As more cases of suspected food poisoning involving people who had eaten at the restaurant were reported by hospitals on March 26, the ministry and the Taipei Department of Health launched an investigation. The Food and
The long-awaited Taichung aquarium is expected to open next year after more than a decade of development. The building in Cingshui District (清水) is to feature a large ocean aquarium on the first floor, coral display area on the second floor, a jellyfish tank and Dajia River (大甲溪) basin display on the third, a river estuary display and restaurant on the fourth, and a cafe and garden on the fifth. As it is near Wuci Fishing Port (梧棲漁港), many are expecting the opening of the aquarium to bring more tourism to the harbor. Speaking at the city council on Monday, Taichung City Councilor
A fourth person has died in a food poisoning outbreak linked to the Xinyi (信義) branch of Malaysian restaurant chain Polam Kopitiam (寶林茶室) in Taipei, Deputy Minister of Health and Welfare Victor Wang (王必勝) said on Monday. It was the second fatality in three days, after another was announced on Saturday. The 40-year-old woman experienced multiple organ failure in the early hours on Monday, and the family decided not to undergo emergency resuscitation, Wang said. She initially showed signs of improvement after seeking medical treatment for nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, but her condition worsened due to an infection, he said. Two others who
Taiwanese should be mindful when visiting China, as Beijing in July is likely to tighten the implementation of policies on national security following the introduction of two regulations, a researcher said on Saturday. China on Friday unveiled the regulations governing the law enforcement and judicial activities of national security agencies. They would help crack down on “illegal” and “criminal” activities that Beijing considers to be endangering national security, according to reports by China’s state media. The definition of what constitutes a national security threat in China is vague, Taiwan Thinktank researcher Wu Se-chih (吳瑟致) said. The two procedural regulations are to provide Chinese