The random kidnapping and homicide of a university student in Tainan at the end of October forced society, the government, and teachers and students at Taiwan’s colleges and universities to recognize the deficiencies in campus security. The Garden of Hope Foundation (GOH) is particularly concerned that in the area of public security, the victim’s experience of victimization is generally not taken seriously. Campuses and related reporting units lack gender violence prevention and crisis awareness.

GOH held the press conference “I want the right to walk at night! Give me back my physical autonomy!” at the Legislative Yuan, advocating that schools should plan and establish a safe campus space for gender equality and suggesting the formation of a community patrol team so that the public can look after each other, get involved in violence prevention, and become significant others (in the psychological/sociological sense) in the community network who support each other.

GOH Deputy CEO Wang Yueh-hao appealed to the public to be aware of myths about sexual/gender violence and especially avoid blaming victims by saying such things as, “Why did you wait until so late to come home?” and, “Why did you wear such revealing clothes – don’t know how to protect yourself?!” Everyone should have the right to go wherever whenever with peace of mind and freedom from fear, regardless of age, gender, and ethnicity.