Several parents groups yesterday expressed opposition to a call for the abolishment of the statutory rape clause in the Criminal Code made by a number of participants at this year’s Taiwan Gay Pride parade.
The National Parents’ Association, the National Alliance of Parents Organizations and the Taiwan Children’s Rights Association said they became concerned after several parties and candidates running in January’s legislative elections took part in the Oct. 31 parade, during which the abolishment of Article 227 of the Criminal Code was advocated.
The article stipulates that having sex with or committing obscene acts against minors, those aged under 16, is a criminal offense.
The groups said during a joint news conference that the article is aimed at protecting minors, so that they do not have sex before they are physically and mentally mature.
The groups voiced opposition to the abolishment of the article, urging political parties and candidates to make their stance on the issue clear.
In a statement released on Saturday last week, organizers of the parade said the call for abolishing Article 227 was made by a group that took part in the annual event, in which all participants were allowed to freely express their opinions.
The article was not part of the main issues advocated in this year’s parade, but was in line with the theme of “no age limit,” which sought to “explore how our everyday self-expression is hindered by social norms associated with age, sex and gender,” the organizers said.
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