A group of young people yesterday interrupted a news conference in Taipei to protest a Ministry of Health and Welfare official’s comments linking teen suicide to the number of tall buildings in Taiwan.
About 10 people dashed onto the stage shortly after the news conference began — at which officials were to share details of a report on the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
The protesters held placards and shouted slogans to demand the resignation of Department of Mental and Oral Health Director-General Chen Li-chung (諶立中), who on Wednesday said that “Taiwan’s tall buildings have been increasing in the past decade, causing many teenagers to impulsively jump off them to commit suicide.”
Photo: Screengrab from the news conference livestream
Chen is avoiding the real problem and has confused the means of committing suicide and its causes, the protesters said, adding that the ministry should apologize immediately.
Moreover, Chen should hold a news conference to apologize and take responsibility for his careless remarks, they said.
The protesters also urged the government to convene a meeting to investigate the causes of suicide among children and young people.
A panel of five international experts were in Taipei this week to review Taiwan’s implementation of the UN convention, during which time they spoke with government officials, non-governmental organizations and young people.
The panel after the interruption presented 72 concluding observations at the news conference.
Chen said that his comment was “a short answer to a question from the panel” and it has been taken out of context.
However, it is good that the group had an opportunity to express their opinions, he said.
Suicide prevention meetings are held regularly, he said, adding that investigating the causes of suicide might be difficult in Taiwan, as there is a stigma attached to it.
It would be easier to “remove access to lethal methods,” including by installing barriers on tall buildings, he said.
Other prevention measures include intervening with children and young people who have emotional problems, he said.
Teenagers should be encouraged to participate in activities that strengthen their mental resilience and foster interpersonal relationships, he said.
Meanwhile, panel members said that Taiwan should review the Protection of Children and Youths Welfare and Rights Act (兒童及少年福利與權益保障法) “to fully harmonize it with the contents and spirit” of the UN convention.
Panel members acknowledged the establishment of the National Human Rights Commission in 2020, but said there should be “a well-staffed, well-budgeted and well-trained unit within it to deal with the rights of the child.”
The government should “consider introducing a single, robust child-death review process,” as suicide rates are on the rise, they said.
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