The Ministry of Health and Welfare on Wednesday announced it is to manage a centralized registry of people convicted of crimes against minors, consolidating what used to be the purview of local governments.
Article 49 of the Protection of Children and Youths Welfare and Rights Act (兒童及少年福利與權益保障法) requires the central competent authority to keep records of punishments for crimes against minors imposed by municipal authorities.
Local governments used to be responsible for publishing the names of people convicted of certain crimes against minors, Social and Family Affairs Administration Deputy Director-General Chou Tao-chun (周道君) said.
Photo courtesy of Chen Pei-yu’s office
However, from this month, they would also be required to post the information to the central government’s Web site dedicated to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, Chou said.
The change comes after concerns from lawmakers that the original system has resulted in loopholes, he said.
For example, an employer in Tainan might not see a name published from a crime committed in Taipei, while the duration of publication differs among places, he added.
The ministry during discussions with local governments last month decided to consolidate the lists, Chou said, adding that local governments may still publish their own registries if they wish.
After the sentence or punishment is complete, local governments would have one month to publish names, which are to be viewable in perpetuity, he said.
Palauan President Surangel Whipps Jr arrived in Taiwan last night to kick off his first visit to the country since beginning his second term earlier this year. After arriving at Taoyuan International Airport at around 6:30 pm, Whipps and his delegation were welcomed by Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍). Speaking to gathered media, the Palauan leader said he was excited and honored to be back in Taiwan on his first state visit to Taiwan since he was sworn in this January. Among those traveling with Whipps is Minister of State Gustav N. Aitaro, Public Infrastructure
President William Lai (賴清德) yesterday thanked Palau for its continued support of Taiwan's international participation, as Taipei was once again excluded from the World Health Assembly (WHA) currently taking place in Switzerland. "Palau has never stopped voicing support for Taiwan" in the UN General Assembly, the WHO and other UN-affiliated agencies, Lai said during a bilateral meeting with visiting Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr. "We have been profoundly touched by these endorsements," Lai said, praising the Pacific island nation's firm support as "courageous." Lai's remarks came as Taiwan was excluded for the ninth consecutive year from the WHA, which is being held in
RESOLUTIONS DEBATE: Taiwan’s allies said that UN and WHA resolutions cited by China and other nations ‘do not determine Taiwan’s participation in WHO activities’ A proposal to invite Taiwan to this year’s World Health Assembly (WHA) was rejected on Monday, resulting in Taipei’s absence from the annual meeting for a ninth consecutive year, although partners spoke up for Taiwan’s participation at the first day of the meeting. The first agenda item after the opening was a “two-on-two debate” on a proposal to invite Taiwan to participate at the WHA as an observer. Similar to previous years, two countries made statements in favor of the proposal, while two others expressed their opposition. Philippine Secretary of Health Teodoro Herbosa, president of the 78th WHA, accepted the WHA General Committee’s
At least three people died and more than a dozen were injured yesterday afternoon when a vehicle struck a group of pedestrians in New Taipei City’s Sansia District (三峽). The incident happened at about 4pm when a car rammed into pedestrians at an intersection near Bei Da Elementary School. Witnesses said the sedan, being driven at a high speed, ran a red light, knocking scooters out of the way and hitting students crossing the road before careening into a median near the intersection of Guocheng and Guoguang streets. The incident resulted in three deaths and 13 injuries, including the driver, a 78-year-old man
RSS