While parents are usually seen as protectors of their children, the Taiwan Fund for Children and Families found that among the 1,206 child abuse cases it handled last year, parents were the abuser in 1,031— or 85.5 percent — of the cases.
The fund also quoted figures released by the Ministry of the Interior, which showed that parents were the abusers in 10,054 — or 76.9 percent — of the 13,077 reported cases of child abuse last year.
“It's unfortunate that so many parents hurt their own children because of sudden emotional outbursts,” Miguel Wang (王明仁), the fund's executive director, told a news conference in Taipei yesterday. “We're worried that such cases may continue to increase because parents are under increasing pressure amid the global economic crisis.”
Wang said the fund had found that 64.3 percent of the child abuse cases it handled last year stemmed from a lack of parenting knowledge, followed by poverty and unemployment.
The situation has not improved this year. The fund said that of the 46 cases reported in newspapers in the first quarter, poor parenting skills, poverty and unemployment were again cited as the top three causes of abuse.
In one case, a father beat his infant daughter to death to stop her from crying; in another, a drug-addicted mother abandoned her two children; and in a third, a sleeping infant suffocated to death while the parents were having a meal right by the crib.
“On average, one child every 0.8 day gets hurt because of parental carelessness or inadequate care,” said Paul Shiao (蕭琮琦), director of the fund's social work department. “Many parents don't know how to take care of their children properly; some even use their children as tools to vent their emotions.”
Of the 46 cases reported this year, 15, or 32.6 percent, cited poverty or long-term unemployment as a factor.
“This shows that economic recession has a lot to do with the rise in child abuse,” Shiao said. “It's a serious issue and parents need some support from society to improve their parenting skills and to relieve some of their pressure.”
To avoid emotional outbursts, Shiao said parents could try to take 10 deep breaths and close their eyes to calm themselves when they are about to get angry with their children.
He also urged parents to seek help from social groups and to hug their children.
GENSLER SURVEY: ‘Economic infrastructure is not enough. A city needs to inspire pride, offer moments of joy and foster a sense of belonging,’ the company said Taipei was named the city with the “highest staying power” in the world by US-based design and architecture firm Gensler. The Taiwanese capital earned the top spot among 65 cities across six continents with 64 percent of Taipei respondents in a survey of 33,000 people saying they wanted to stay in the city. Rounding out the top five were Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City (61 percent), Singapore (59 percent), Sydney (58 percent) and Berlin (51 percent). Sixth to 10th place went to Monterrey, Mexico; Munich, Germany; Sao Paulo, Brazil; Vancouver; and Seoul. Cities in the US were ranked separately, with Minneapolis first at
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
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
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,
RSS