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.
Three Taiwanese airlines have prohibited passengers from packing Bluetooth earbuds and their charger cases in checked luggage. EVA Air and Uni Air said that Bluetooth earbuds and charger cases are categorized as portable electronic devices, which should be switched off if they are placed in checked luggage based on international aviation safety regulations. They must not be in standby or sleep mode. However, as charging would continue when earbuds are placed in the charger cases, which would contravene international aviation regulations, their cases must be carried as hand luggage, they said. Tigerair Taiwan said that earbud charger cases are equipped
Foreign travelers entering Taiwan on a short layover via Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport are receiving NT$600 gift vouchers from yesterday, the Tourism Administration said, adding that it hopes the incentive would boost tourism consumption at the airport. The program, which allows travelers holding non-Taiwan passports who enter the country during a layover of up to 24 hours to claim a voucher, aims to promote attractions at the airport, the agency said in a statement on Friday. To participate, travelers must sign up on the campaign Web site, the agency said. They can then present their passport and boarding pass for their connecting international
Temperatures in northern Taiwan are forecast to reach as high as 30°C today, as an ongoing northeasterly seasonal wind system weakens, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. CWA forecaster Tseng Chao-cheng (曾昭誠) said yesterday that with the seasonal wind system weakening, warmer easterly winds would boost the temperature today. Daytime temperatures in northern Taiwan and Yilan County are expected to range from 28°C to 30°C today, up about 3°C from yesterday, Tseng said. According to the CWA, temperature highs in central and southern Taiwan could stay stable. However, the weather is expected to turn cooler starting tonight as the northeasterly wind system strengthens again
Taiwan sweltered through its hottest October on record, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday, the latest in a string of global temperature records. The main island endured its highest average temperature since 1950, CWA forecaster Liu Pei-teng said. Temperatures the world over have soared in recent years as human-induced climate change contributes to ever more erratic weather patterns. Taiwan’s average temperature was 27.381°C as of Thursday, Liu said. Liu said the average could slip 0.1°C by the end of yesterday, but it would still be higher than the previous record of 27.009°C in 2016. "The temperature only started lowering around Oct. 18 or 19
RSS