In August, members of the Asian Network of Women’s Shelter visited Taiwan to learn about the framework for domestic violence prevention. Earlier this month, the Garden of Hope Foundation once again invited members of the Asian Women’s Shelter Network, with representatives from government agencies and non-governmental organizations from Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Cambodia, to study Taiwan’s handling and prevention of sexual assault.

Gentle support for decades: GOH has become a source of strength for survivors of sexual assault

On the first day of the study visit, the delegates came to GOH Taipei Branch to learn about GOH’s experience in sexual assault prevention and services.

First, the CEO of the Garden of Hope Foundation, Wang Yuehao(王玥好), introduced the foreign guests to the development of sexual assault services in Taiwan. The CEO began by discussing how the murder of Peng Wanru(彭婉如) sparked advocacy for revisions to the Sexual Assault Crime Prevention Act, highlighting Taiwan’s growing emphasis on sexual autonomy. This provided the visitors with an overview of the development of Taiwan’s sexual assault prevention framework.

However, in practice, the Garden of Hope has identified several systemic issues that need to be addressed. For instance, many sexual assault cases occur during the victim’s childhood, but by the time the victim reaches adulthood, the statute of limitations has often expired, allowing perpetrators to go unpunished. In response, the Garden of Hope has been actively advocating for the statute of limitations for childhood sexual assault cases to begin at adulthood in order to better protect the rights of victims.

In terms of services, Li Ruyu(李如玉), supervisor of the Taipei Dandelion Counseling and Sexual Trauma Recovery Center, and Wang Jiawen(王佳文), supervisor of child sexual assault services in Taipei, gave a detailed presentation to the guests on the foundation’s services for sexual assault victims.

The Dandelion Counseling and Sexual Trauma Recovery Center, established in 1994, was the first professional sexual assault counseling center in Taiwan. By utilizing the concepts of “significant others” and the “inner child,” the center provides individual and group counseling to survivors, offering a safe haven for their emotional healing.

For child sexual assault cases, the Garden of Hope works closely with hospitals, law enforcement, and other agencies to assist victims with medical examinations and reporting the crime, ensuring the protection of those who have been traumatized. In recent years, GOH have observed that many sexual assault cases involve perpetrators known to the victims, making “relationship issues” a key focus of the work of the GOH. Additionally, the GOH has recognized the complexity of trauma in sexual assault survivors, realizing that simple conversations may not be sufficient to help. As a result, they have begun developing body-oriented therapeutic approaches in recent years.

In addition to services for victims, GOH also specially invited Professor Lin Mingjie(林明傑) from the Department of Criminology at National Chung Cheng University to discuss how Taiwan addresses sexual assault perpetrators.

Starting with the definition of sexual violence, Professor Lin believes that a perpetrator’s sense of loss of power is the root cause of sexual violence. He also introduced measures for preventing recidivism among sexual assault offenders, including risk assessments, treatment programs, and gender equality education.

The foreign guests actively provided feedback and asked questions about Taiwan’s sexual assault service framework. Their inquiries included how to advocate for gender equality, how to establish professional standards for counselors, and the reporting mechanisms for sexual assault cases in Taiwan. One notable question came from Santosh, a representative of the Nepalese women’s organization Saathi, which raised a significant issue during the discussion.

“In Nepal, sexual assault victims are often subjected to social discrimination. Does Taiwan face similar situations?” Santosh asked.

“In the past, such a situation was common in Taiwan. However, we have found that in recent years, the number of young people who think this way has been slowly decreasing, but GOH will continue to advocate for this, and this is the direction we have been working in.”

International Cooperation in Combating Digital Sexual Violence is Essential

With the widespread use of technology, cases of digital sexual violence have surged globally in recent years. Taiwan, despite its technological advancements, is not immune to this issue.

The Taiwan Women’s Rescue Foundation (TWRF) has significant experience in supporting victims of digital violence. During a recent presentation, Supervisor Tseng Chun-Wei (曾峻偉) discussed the definition of digital sexual violence and shared insights from TWRF’s casework. He noted that many victims of digital violence experience learned helplessness, largely due to their inability to control the continuous distribution of their private images. As a result, they often blame themselves and become trapped in negative emotions such as anxiety, fear, and guilt.

“The only way to rescue a victim of digital sexual violence is for them to stop blaming themselves,” said Mr. Tseng.

This is why TWRF has been working closely with survivors to help them rebuild their courage in the face of adversity.

A key player in Taiwan’s fight against digital sexual violence is the Sexual Image Abuse Report Center (SIARC). Established in 2024, SIARC is responsible for the removal of sexual images throughout Taiwan. Liu Yujun (劉昱均), SIARC’s project manager, introduced the center’s services, which include legal consultations related to digital sexual violence, education on evidence preservation, and mechanisms for removing sexual images. Liu also highlighted the StopNCII program, a defense tool that converts private images into codes, allowing automatic detection and prevention of those images from being uploaded to social media platforms—a crucial step in combating digital sexual violence.

Digital sexual violence is a global crime problem. Delegates at the event paid close attention to Taiwan’s approach, noting its potential as a model for other countries. Anika, a representative from Bonhishikha Unlearn Gender, a women’s organization in Bangladesh, shared the challenges her country faces.

“Although we have a digital security law in Bangladesh, it is not well enforced, and many people are unaware that they can seek help under it,” Anika explained.

The discussion also emphasized that the true horror of digital sexual violence lies in the global spread of intimate images via the internet. Even if a victim’s country blocks the content, the images can continue to circulate worldwide. In response, SIPC noted that international cooperation is essential for removing these illegal images across borders. Only through collaboration between governments can the rights of victims be truly protected.

Public-Private Partnerships Spare No Effort to Support Survivors of Sexual Violence

In Taiwan, collaboration between civil society organizations, such as the Garden of Hope Foundation (GOH), and public sector units like Social Affairs, the Police, and the Judiciary, forms the backbone of the country’s sexual assault prevention and treatment framework. This partnership is essential in providing comprehensive support to survivors of sexual violence.

The Taipei Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Prevention Center is the frontline of support for survivors. Ms. Liu Yi (劉懿), head of the Sexual Assault Protection Unit, introduced Taipei City’s sexual assault prevention and treatment services to international guests. She detailed the city’s approach, which includes four key areas of focus: integrated services, victim recovery counseling, perpetrator recidivism prevention, and advocacy for prevention. Her presentation provided a thorough overview of Taiwan’s victim-centered sexual assault protection system.

Taipei City Hospital’s Women and Child Branch was the first hospital in Taiwan to implement a “one-stop service.” This initiative was designed to minimize the secondary trauma survivors face when they must recount their experiences multiple times to various agencies, such as the police, the Family Prevention Center, and the District Attorney’s Office. The one-stop service streamlines these processes, allowing victims to receive medical exams and give statements in one location, which aids in the subsequent trial process. During the visit, guests toured the hospital’s emergency room and interview room, gaining a firsthand understanding of how these services are applied in practice.

Sexual assault is considered a serious crime in Taiwan. Cases are ultimately referred to the prosecutor’s office to ensure the judicial protection of victims’ rights. To gain insight into how Taiwan’s judicial system handles sexual assault cases, the delegation visited the Shilin District Prosecutor’s Office, where Chief Prosecutor Chen Jen-Huei (陳貞卉) provided a tour of key areas, such as the investigation court, identification room, and the war situation command room. She also highlighted how the judiciary has adapted to the rise of digital sexual violence by adding a new chapter on sexual image crimes in 2023, underlining the growing significance of legal measures against this emerging form of violence.

The guests expressed interest in Taiwan’s sexual assault protection system, particularly in areas like treatment for transgender individuals and vulnerable groups such as children, as well as the broader victim treatment programs. They also shared insights into the challenges their own countries face.

Suki, a representative from JSAC (Sri Lanka), discussed the issue of women’s resettlement in shelters.

“In Sri Lanka, women who are victims of sexual assault are usually placed in shelters. However, due to the short sentences for sexual assault perpetrators, once they are released, victims often feel frustrated because they remain confined in shelters while their attackers regain their freedom.”

Santosh, from Nepal, shared the difficulties faced by sexual assault victims in his country.

“In Nepal, many victims avoid using the word ‘rape’ or refuse to go to court, leading to cases being hastily concluded. Additionally, many women are hesitant to speak up about what happened to them due to the fear of being accused of seeking financial gain.”

Deepening Community and Neighborhood Efforts: Hua Young Service Center Focuses on Emotional and Diversity Inclusion

Located in Sanchong, New Taipei City, the Hua Young Service Center is an emotional education hub for young people, established by the Garden of Hope Foundation (GOH) in partnership with the New Taipei City Government. Through various activities and educational outreach, the center offers adolescents opportunities to explore and learn about gender and emotional relationships.

Ms. Minjuan Tsai (蔡旻娟), a social worker at the Flowering Youth Center, gave an overview of the center’s work and led the guests on a tour of the emotional education area. One highlight of the tour was the “Mirror Room,” which sparked the curiosity of the visitors. The Mirror Room is designed to encourage young people to look at themselves, fostering self-recognition, self-understanding, and self-acceptance.

In addition to providing gender and emotional education for youth, GOH has recently identified a growing need to support gender-diverse communities. To meet this demand, they established the Multiple Discrimination and Sexual Violence Prevention Center(MDSVPC) with the aim of ensuring that no one in the community, especially those marginalized, is left without services.

Ms. Chen Hao-Hsun (陳鶴勳), the supervisor of the MDSVPC, introduced the center’s services to the guests, emphasizing their role in helping individuals recover and regain self-reliance. The center also advocates for the rights of those excluded by societal systems, ensuring that no one is overlooked.

After the presentation, GOH and the visiting delegation engaged in a meaningful exchange about the services offered, including whether the Hua Young Service Center provides gender and emotional education for parents, and the general attitudes of Taiwanese teenagers toward sexuality. Sopheak, director of the Cambodian Ministry of Victim Protection, shared insights about the challenges of same-sex marriage in Cambodia.

“In Cambodia, although same-sex couples can marry, they cannot obtain a marriage certificate, which means they are denied the same rights as heterosexual couples,” Sopheak explained.

Taiwan’s achievements in gender equality rank among the highest globally, and its comprehensive sexual assault service framework is viewed as a model for other nations. The guests expressed admiration for Taiwan’s work in this area and voiced their desire for closer collaboration, particularly in areas like talent development and regular exchanges of experiences to improve their own systems.

GOH has long been dedicated to sexual assault protection services and, in recent years, has worked to share Taiwan’s experiences with the international community. Moving forward, GOH will continue its role as a protector of sexual violence survivors and looks forward to partnering with other countries to build a world free from gender discrimination and violence.