For the grand opening of the 67th World Health Assembly, the World Medical Association, the largest organization of its kind in the world, also decided to hold its annual meeting in Geneva, Switzerland. The association held a luncheon at noon on the 20th and specifically invited Wen-Ta Chiu, Taiwan’s Minister of Health and Welfare, to speak on the subject of “Taiwan’s Success in Combating Violence Against Women.” This reflects global approval for Taiwan’s long-term efforts to prevent violence against women. 

The luncheon was held on the scenic shores of Lake Geneva. A total of three speakers were invited. Wen-Ta Chiu was scheduled to be the first to take the stage. The other two speakers were Sir Michael Marmot, an internationally renowned expert on gender-based violence, and Dr. Margaret Mungherera, the president of the World Medical Association. Wen-Ta Chiu indicated that Taiwan began promoting gender mainstreaming in 2003. In 2007, Taiwan signed the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). The Legislative Yuan passed the CEDAW Implementation Act in 2011, setting an important milestone for the promotion of gender equality that is geared to international standards. 

Wen-Ta Chiu stated that Taiwan actually developed and implemented the Sexual Assault Crime Prevention Act, which was the first of its kind in Asia, in 1997. In 1998, Taiwan developed the Domestic Violence Prevention Act. In 2005, in response to social developments, the Sexual Harassment Prevention Act was developed, completing the set of three laws for the prevention of gender violence and making Taiwan a leader in legislation to prevent violence against women in Asia. 

With this advanced and comprehensive legislative regime, the prevalence of marital violence in Taiwan is approximately 18%. This is far lower than the 2013 global average calculated by the World Health Organization, which indicated that approximately 30% of all women have suffered from violence in intimate relationships. The prevalence of violence against women in intimate relationships among member countries of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development is approximately 10% to 38%. Numerous countries around the world have praised Taiwan’s impressive results in preventing violence against women. 

“Good” must still become “even better.” Wen-Ta Chiu told the hundreds of physicians at the assembly that Taiwan upholds three-level prevention concepts to implement the highest principles of protecting the personal safety of women. Taiwan possesses a sound gender-based violence prevention network with a comprehensive structure. Primary prevention relies on grassroots community action to prevent violence. The people must be called on to have “zero tolerance for violence.” The main axis of secondary prevention is “being responsible for reporting and early intervention.” Taiwan has established the “113” protection and abuser care hotline. Reporting and consulting services are provided 24 hours a day all year round. Finally, tertiary prevention focuses on victims. Integrated services are provided, with intervention services for offenders to prevent recidivism. 

With these thorough prevention efforts, Taiwan provided services to a total of nearly 990,000 victims of domestic violence and nearly 180,000 sexual assault victims in 2013. Wen-Ta Chiu stated that since the creation of the Ministry of Health and Welfare on July 23, 2013, the integration of the health and social welfare systems allows better care for the personal safety of women, allowing them to live without fear in a society filled with love. These efforts are also making Taiwan an ideal country for social welfare, pushing Taiwan another step forward.