TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwanese authorities handled 2,954 cases under the Stalking and Harassment Prevention Act last year, according to the latest Cabinet statistics, with most involving alleged male perpetrators and female victims.
Of these, 1,995 were general stalking cases, and 959 were linked to domestic violence. More than 80% of victims were between the ages of 21 and 50, while women accounted for 86.8% of victims.
The data showed a continued rise in general stalking cases over the past three years. Cases tied to domestic violence declined.
The 31–40 age group accounted for the highest number of alleged perpetrators, with 660 cases, or 22.3%. The 21–30 and 41–50 groups followed at 19.9% each.
On enforcement measures, police requests for preventive detention were approved in 51.6% of cases, the highest rate in three years. Written warnings were issued in 59.5% of cases, and stalking protection orders were granted in 72.6%.
Modern Women’s Foundation researcher Wang Chiu-lan (王秋嵐), who has worked with victims, told The Reporter that women are more likely to be targeted due to social and cultural factors. She added that women also tend to perceive higher levels of risk, making them more likely to report stalking behavior, while men may be less likely to report incidents or recognize them as threatening.
Taiwan implemented the Stalking and Harassment Prevention Act in June 2022. The law criminalizes repeated stalking and provides measures including written warnings, protection orders, and preventive detention.
Wang said perpetrators often do not recognize their behavior as wrong. Written warnings, which were debated during legislative discussions, are intended as an early intervention tool, signaling official police action to help prevent further escalation of behavior.
