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Activists vow to fight for female victims of abuse
HARD PLIGHT:
Several prominent politicians, including Annette Lu, urged the government to allocate more funds to promote women's affairs and social welfare
STAFF WRITER, WITH CNA
Sunday, Jun 01, 2008, Page 2
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A dancer depicting the horrors of domestic violence tries to reach for help through the cracks in a brick wall symbolizing fear during a press conference marking the 20th anniversary of the Garden of Hope Foundation in Taipei yesterday.
PHOTO: LIU HSIN-DE, TAIPEI TIMES
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Social rights activists and politicians toppled a red-brick wall symbolizing the fears and concerns of female victims of sexual abuse or domestic violence to demonstrate their determination to protect and safeguard women's rights.
The activity was organized by the nonprofit Garden of Hope Foundation to mark its 20th anniversary. The organization is committed to helping girls and young women who face a difficult plight, especially those in the sex trade or are victims of sexual abuse and domestic violence.
Commending the foundation’s role as a savior of women suffering from abuse or violence over the past 20 years, former vice president Annette Lu (呂秀蓮) voiced her hope that the public would show greater concern for abused women.
Lu urged the new government to allocate more funding to women’s affairs and social welfare in addition to their focus on national defense and foreign affairs.
Minister of Justice Wang Ching-feng (王清峰), the first woman to hold the post, said that while the foundation had devoted itself to caring for female victims of violence or abuse, “there is still room for us to make more effort.”
Democratic Progressive Party Chairwoman Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) pledged to make protection of women’s rights a top party issue.
“The DPP will continue to safeguard women’s rights and will continue to monitor the government’s social welfare policies,” she said.
Foundation CEO Chi Hui-jung (紀惠容) said her foundation would continue to care for women and girls in need.
“The Garden of Hope Foundation will do its upmost to stop sexual violence and promote gender equality,” she said.
Since its establishment in 1998, the foundation has cared for more than 100,000 women in its 35 centers around the country.
From one halfway house, the foundation’s services have grown to include shelters and service centers nationwide providing everything from counseling and temporary housing to employment training, social work and legal assistance.
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