TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — An average of 30 people fall victim to sexual assault in Taiwan each day, with children and adolescents accounting for roughly two-thirds of cases, the Ministry of Health and Welfare said Wednesday.
Ministry official Pan Ying-mei (潘英美) noted that under Taiwan law, any sexual activity involving individuals under the age of 16 is classified as sexual assault. Despite the prevalence, only about one-third of victims report the crime, per CNA.
MacKay Memorial Hospital, one of Taiwan’s designated facilities for forensic medical examinations, is central to the country’s response system. In observance of Denim Day, staff from all six branches, led by Superintendent Chang Wen-han (張文瀚), donned denim clothing or masks to express support for survivors of sexual violence and raise awareness of gender-based harm.
The global campaign, observed annually on the last Wednesday of April, originated from a 1992 Italian court ruling that drew international criticism. In the case, the court overturned a rape conviction, citing the victim’s tight jeans as evidence of implied consent, sparking worldwide protests that gave rise to the Denim Day movement.
In a speech delivered at MacKay Memorial Hospital, Chang shared a past encounter in the emergency room where he intervened in a suspected trafficking case. A woman seeking care was accompanied by a man who resisted all medical examinations.
Sensing potential abuse, Chang notified the authorities, ultimately helping police uncover a criminal organization.
Chang emphasized the importance of alertness in healthcare settings and encouraged professionals to act when encountering suspicious situations. He also urged greater societal support for survivors, noting that many remain silent due to feelings of shame.
MacKay Memorial Hospital has remained committed to supporting survivors since establishing Taiwan’s first crisis intervention center for abused women in 1996, Chang said. Through events like Denim Day, the hospital aims to remind the public that support is available.
Pan also addressed the evolving nature of sexual crimes in the digital age, citing a rise in covert filming and other online forms of abuse. These developments, she said, have made cases more invasive and harder to detect.
She called on the public to abandon outdated prejudices and replace judgment with empathy, emphasizing the importance of rejecting silence in the face of such crimes.
