While the Lunar New Year holiday is a time for family reunions, the Ministry of the Interior said yesterday it was also the time when reports of domestic violence rise.
Ministry statistics showed that more cases of domestic violence were reported in March and September annually between 2007 and last year, with the cases reported in March growing by more than 18 percent.
The ministry said the increase could be a result of the longer break during the Lunar New Year, during which family members spend more time together and violence may result when conflict arises.
“Traditionally, families have to get rid of the old and welcome the new during the Lunar New Year, and conflict may arise between couples or between parents and children [when they disagree],” the ministry said.
Statistics also showed that wives were usually the victims of domestic violence, with women making up 89.9 percent of the 47,908 reported cases of violence in marriage.
Ministry figures showed that the number of reported domestic violence cases rose by 10 percent a year between 2007 and last year.
A total of 72,606 cases were reported in 2007, 79,847 in 2008 and 89,253 last year, the ministry said, adding that analyses of the reasons behind the abuse showed that children, women and elders had become more vulnerable to domestic violence amid the economic downturn.
Up to 58 percent of the reported cases of domestic violence over the past three years were violence against spouses, while child abuse accounted for more than 20 percent.
Abuse of the elderly accounted for about 3 percent, with the numbers continuing to rise, the ministry said.
It also found that foreign spouses were more vulnerable to domestic violence because of cultural and language barriers.
Most of the abusers were aged between 30 and 50, jobless and alcoholic, the ministry said.
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
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,
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