TAIPEI (TVBS News) — A coalition of civic groups and legislators gathered Tuesday (May 6) to demand systemic reforms following a harrowing case involving 12 children who suffered indecent assault and forced recording of sexually exploitative images at a New Taipei City talent class. The press conference brought together prominent advocacy organizations including the Garden of Hope Foundation (勵馨基金會), Judicial Reform Foundation (民間司改會), and Humanistic Education Foundation (人本教育基金會), alongside Legislators Fan Yun (范雲) and Chen Pei-yu (陳培瑜).
Parents of the victims detailed a traumatic bureaucratic maze they were forced to navigate, from initial reporting through medical examinations. They condemned the system's coldness at every stage—education, police, healthcare, social services, investigation, and victim protection networks all failed to provide appropriate support for traumatized children. The parents specifically criticized the insufficient professionalism at family protection centers, school counseling services, and social work agencies, noting that prosecutors even barred parents and legal representatives from accompanying children during questioning.
The press conference participants demanded comprehensive training reforms and a thorough review of existing protocols for handling child abuse cases. They stressed the urgent need for creating trauma-informed support networks, pointing out that despite the judicial system's procedural efficiency, it frequently lacks the compassion and sensitivity essential for young victims and their families. Speakers noted that successful resolution in this case depended largely on the parents' personal knowledge, emotional strength, and fortunate connections that helped them bridge significant gaps in the system.
The coalition called for establishing comprehensive child protection systems with clearly defined guidelines and mechanisms to prevent similar tragedies. They formally appealed to the Control Yuan (監察院), Taiwan's top government watchdog agency responsible for investigating official misconduct, to launch an investigation and implement necessary improvements. The advocates emphasized that these cases of child sexual assault represent not just individual tragedies but a profound societal failure requiring immediate action. ★