Despite efforts by local women's rights groups to promote the decriminalization of adultery in Taiwan, 79 percent of respondents to a survey released yesterday disapprove of the idea and believe that adultery should remain subject to criminal penalties.
In the case of a husband having an extra-marital relationship, 43 percent of the respondents said that the married man who broke his marriage vows, rather than his mistress, should be punished.
Officials at the National Union of Taiwan Women's Associations, a co-organizer of the survey, noted that the results were in contradiction to the present situation, in which most wives opt to sue their husbands' mistresses, but not their husbands, in adultery cases.
The survey was conducted by the union in cooperation with the Constitutional Reform Alliance from March 23 to April 15 among 6,439 people, with women accounting for 60 percent of respondents and men making up the other 40 percent.
In the case of a woman engaging in a sex trade with a married man, approximately 60 percent of the respondents said both parties should be punished.
Seventy-six percent of the respondents did not think that sex should be traded and less than 10 percent of the respondents supported the idea of publicizing the names of those caught patronizing prostitutes.
On the issue of whether children should be allowed to take their maternal surnames, 59 percent of the respondents believed children should have the right to decide for themselves when they reach adulthood, and 97 percent thought maternal surnames should be allowed under certain conditions.
On the applicability of artificial reproduction for single women, 41 percent of the respondents said the women concerned should have the right to decide for themselves, and 26 percent said they should be allowed to use the technology after obtaining the consent of their partners.
Homosexual relationships were acceptable to 75 percent of the respondents, with 25 percent opposing same-sex marriage.
Meanwhile, women's rights activists expressed doubts over the practicality of the government's plan to provide subsidies to female workers on unpaid maternity leave when pregnancy discrimination remains a common problem in the workplace in Taiwan.
In a bid to boost the country's fertility rate, the Council of Labor Affairs unveiled early this week a plan to provide a monthly subsidy of NT$13,500 (US$430) for up to six months to female workers on unpaid childcare leave. The program is expected to be put into force at the end of this year at the earliest.
Officials at the Awakening Foundation said that although the Gender Equality Employment Law (兩性工作平等法) forbade employers from dismissing workers on the basis of pregnancy, childbirth or childcare, the Taipei City government received 103 complaints related to pregnancy discrimination between October 1995 and November 2003.
While the law allowed workers to take leave without pay for up to one year to take care of their babies, only workers at 24.5 percent of local businesses have asked for the leave, they said.
The Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association has cautioned Japanese travelers to be vigilant against pickpockets at several popular tourist spots in Taiwan, including Taipei’s night markets, the Yongkang Street area, Zhongshan MRT Station, and Jiufen (九份) in New Taipei City. The advisory, titled “Recent Development of Concerns,” was posted on the association’s Web site under its safety and emergency report section. It urges travelers to keep backpacks fully zipped and carried in front, with valuables placed at the bottom of the bag. Visitors are advised to be especially mindful of their belongings when taking photos or speaking on the phone, avoid storing wallets and
ENDORSING TAIWAN: Honduran presidential candidate Nasry Afura said that Honduras was ‘100 times better off’ when it was allied with Taipei The Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday said it would explore the possibility of restoring diplomatic relations with Honduras based on the principle of maintaining national interests and dignity. The ministry made the remarks in response to reporters’ questions regarding an article titled: “Will Taiwan Regain a Diplomatic Ally?” published in The Diplomat on Saturday. The article said Honduras’ presidential election in November could offer Taiwan the chance to regain an ally, as multiple candidates have promoted re-establishing diplomatic relations with Taiwan. Honduras severed diplomatic ties with Taiwan in March 2023 in favor of Beijing, but since switching its diplomatic recognition,
A fourth public debate was held today about restarting the recently decommissioned Ma-anshan Nuclear Power Plant, ahead of a referendum on the controversial issue to be held in less than two weeks. A referendum on Aug. 23 is to ask voters if they agree that “the Ma-anshan Nuclear Power Plant should continue operations upon approval by the competent authority and confirmation that there are no safety concerns.” Anyone over 18 years of age can vote in the referendum. The vote comes just three months after its final reactor shut down, officially making Taiwan nuclear-free. Taiwan People’s Party Chairman Huang Kuo-chang (黃國昌) represented
Scoot announced yesterday that starting in October, it would increase flights between Taipei and Japan’s Narita airport and Hokkaido, and between Singapore and Taipei. The low-cost airline, a subsidiary of Singapore Airlines, also said it would launch flights to Chiang Rai in Thailand, Okinawa and Tokyo’s Haneda airport between December and March next year. Flights between Singapore and Chiang Rai would begin on Jan. 1, with five flights per week operated by an Embraer E190-E2 aircraft, Scoot said. Flights between Singapore and Okinawa would begin on Dec. 15, with three flights per week operated by Airbus A320 aircraft, the airline said. Services between Singapore
RSS