Thousands rally in Taipei for better child protection laws

數千人在台北集會，要求制定更好的兒童保護法

Death of 1-year-old orphan draws attention to lapses in child safety


TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Thousands of people rallied on Ketagalan Boulevard in Taipei on Saturday, calling for stronger child protection laws.

The demonstration was sparked by the death of a 1-year-old orphan, Kai-Kai (剴剴), who died in December after being placed in the care of sisters Liu Tsai-hsuan (劉彩萱) and Liu Juo-lin (劉若琳). A verdict in the child abuse case is expected on Tuesday, per CNA.

Protesters presented six major demands, including the creation of a Child Protection Department modeled on South Korea’s system. They also called for amending the Criminal Code to eliminate the possibility of parole for those convicted of child abuse resulting in death.

In addition to the large turnout, 80,000 petitions were submitted calling for improvements in child and adolescent protection. Many demonstrators wore white and carried white chrysanthemums. Some parents traveled from Singapore and Malaysia to show their support.

Participants held signs reading “Protect the Children” and shouted slogans such as “Zero tolerance for child abuse, heavy sentences without parole.” Protesters demanded the disbandment of the Child Welfare League Foundation for alleged negligence in overseeing Kai-Kai’s care and also called for an apology from the New Taipei City Government.

Event convener Lee Yu-chun (李侑宭) urged the establishment of a child protection agency that coordinates prosecution, police, social affairs, education, and medical departments. Such coordination, Lee said, would improve reporting and early intervention.

Lee also proposed appointing dedicated doctors to train social workers, police, and teachers, and to support the judiciary in building a rapid response system for child abuse cases. He pointed to South Korea’s model, which allows for the immediate protective isolation of children and grants emergency powers and legal protections to social workers and law enforcement.

Other proposals included “preventive visits” for high-risk families, expanded use of video-assisted check-ins in the case of staffing shortages, and improved training for social workers in identifying and reporting abuse.

The Ministry of Health and Welfare responded on Saturday, stating it is working to enhance child protection efforts. The size and structure of a proposed agency dedicated to child safety remain under discussion.