Our vision
GOH believes that every person should have bodily autonomy. We maintain that sexual violence stems primarily from power and control and that it is an attack on the sexual autonomy of someone else. Statistics from the Ministry of Health and Welfare show that in the last ten years, females have been the primary victims of sexual assault, and the number of male victims has been steadily rising. Data also reveals that children under the age of 18 make up the highest percentage of victims of sexual assault. There are various forms of sexual assault, but regardless of whether the victim is an adult or a child, acquaintance rape (rape committed by such people as relatives, intimate partners, and acquaintances at school or work) is the most common form.
With the number of male victims on the rise, we see that men are also victims of our patriarchal culture. Growing up, men are heavily influenced by the masculine culture, and emotions become increasingly harder to express as the development process goes on. As a result, when men experience sexual assault, they may be too afraid to ask for help, fearing judgment by others. It also may be hard for them to express their emotions regarding traumatic events, and they may even be condemned by relatives, friends, and others, just as happens with female victims. This only makes it clearer that sexual assault occurs when there is an imbalance of power. Thus, in the end, it is an issue of power.
In Taiwanese society, saving face must always be taken into consideration, and relationships must not fall apart if “harmony” is to prevail. In this sort of culture, both children and adults rarely turn down others’ requests. When an emergency arises, prioritizing saving face is the norm, and with the gut feeling that one must maintain relationships at all costs, Taiwanese people struggle to find a polite, harmless way to reject improper requests.
Our society is still awkward when it comes to sex. Repression, shame, and stigma are such powerful forces that positive attitudes toward sex and positive sexual relationships are few and far between regardless of the social setting. Seeking help regarding sexual assault and undergoing the healing process are trials for victims and their family members, friends, and other important people in their lives. Consequently, looking at issues of the body and sex in a positive light, promoting related resources and knowledge, and creating a welcoming atmosphere and environment are all areas in which we continue to strive for progress.
How we educate the public
In our years of practical experience, we have often seen the notion of being careful around strangers emphasized, creating the myth that sexual assault is only perpetrated by strangers and making people less wary of acquaintances with potentially malicious intentions. Furthermore, in overemphasizing self-protection, victims are more likely to blame themselves for jeopardizing their safety. This sort of self-criticism only makes the subsequent healing process more complicated and difficult.
As a result, in educating the public, GOH has strived to encourage people to be part of a safe and welcoming network. In 2020, we published Respect is Not Just Spoken: New Perspectives on the Prevention of Child Sexual Assault, which focuses on the ideas of becoming familiar with one’s own body in a positive way, empowering people to attain bodily autonomy, and learning how to be empathetic with and respect the boundaries of others. Its draw-in is that parents and children can read it together, or children can also read it on their own, and it serves as a space for adults and children to discuss bodily autonomy. In terms of school/community outreach and professional training, GOH has emphasized the incorporation of trauma-informed care and significant others (in the psychological/sociological sense). Every year, each municipality and county holds training workshops on significant others, courses on empowerment against acquaintance rape, and community volunteer training. This is done to raise awareness in society about victims of sexual assault and reduce retraumatization in order to make the road to recovery a little brighter.
Legal and policy advocacy
Those who benefit from GOH’s sexual assault services include children and adults, but the legal issues and government policies they face can be very different. GOH stands with victims of sexual assault and hopes that through advocacy, we can forge a more welcoming legal system and reduce the retraumatization victims often experience when seeking justice in order to ensure the rights of everyone.
In the process of aiding victims of sexual assault, GOH has noticed that perpetrators often continue to harass or endanger victims after the crime, causing victims to keep fearing for their safety. GOH thus proposed the establishment of the Sexual Assault Protection Order System to allow victims to petition the court for a protection order and to stop perpetrators from harassing or endangering them further.
In addition, while aiding victims in applying for compensation, GOH has discovered problems with the compensation system. In collaboration with other groups, GOH has initiated the Crime Victims’ Rights Protection Alliance, which advocates for the protection of victims’ rights and for such protection to be a government responsibility. We have also suggested amendments to regulations to stipulate that compensation for victims is to be paid directly by the state instead of through subrogation. Only when the state quickly and directly compensates victims can they obtain timely and urgently needed compensation.