On July 26, 2014, the Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW) held a tea party with the media at the residence of the Taipei Mayor to formally announce the commencement of the First Purple Ribbon Award: Evaluation Project for People Contributing to National Protective Services. According to the MOHW, the Purple Ribbon Award is modeled after the international anti-violence purple ribbon campaign with the aim of commending workers who have heroically protected women and children against violence through awards and making their deeds of guarding women and children from violence and abuse known to the public, thereby gradually spreading their spirit to every corner of society. 

A woman who had received protection was invited to today’s tea party to share her previous experience in person and endorse the first Purple Ribbon Award. She expressed her gratitude to the social workers and police officers for helping her cast off the nightmare of domestic violence. She also thanked the MOHW for hosting the Purple Ribbon Award because many people who have received help will have the opportunity to extend their thanks to those who helped them. Liu Cheng-wu, a chief prosecutor, also showed his support for the purple ribbon campaign as a male, urging every man in the country to confront violence. 

The Department of Protective Services pointed out that there are a number of unsung heroes who dedicated the prime years of their lives, sacrificed time spent with their families, or even faced threats to their lives just to protect victims and put a stop to acts of violence committed by offenders. Victims were able to escape from violence unharmed with their assistance. The first Purple Ribbon Award is expected to be given to 20 civilians and public servants who have accomplished admirable deeds and set an exemplary model in the prevention of domestic violence, sexual assault and sexual harassment, as well as the protection of adolescents, elderly people, and people with physical and mental disabilities. Recommendations will be accepted from now until August 31. For more details, please visit the campaign website (http://praward.tw). 

Chang Hsiu-yuan from the Department of Protective Services added that this year the MOHW used the purple ribbon, which symbolizes anti-violence all over the world, as an award for workers who have contributed to protective services in Taiwan in order to follow the spirit of the purple ribbon campaign. Violence prevention starts with each individual. No use of violence is justified, but what is more important is to say no to violence and to stand up to and loudly condemn it. The meritorious workers who will receive the Purple Ribbon Award are absolutely the vanguard of violence prevention. The sponsoring unit indicated that a multilayer review system will be adopted to increase the credible evaluation of meritorious workers. 40 candidates will be initially selected from all applicants/nominees for online voting in the second stage, and the candidates or nominators will be asked to explain their candidates’ outstanding deeds. The team of judges will summarize the evaluation results and announce the winners of the first Purple Ribbon Award during an award ceremony on November 22. The sponsoring unit, the Department of Protective Services, anticipates that the Purple Ribbon Award ceremony will follow the same standards as for the Golden Horse Awards, thereby establishing the highest award for professions who help people but are unlikely to receive attention. A Special Contribution Award will also be offered for this year’s Purple Ribbon Award to recognize the forefront of anti-violence workers who used to be victims themselves, but helped others based on their personal experiences after overcoming their trauma, or people who have participated passionately in violence prevention not because of their jobs or special accomplishments, yet set an example or model for others. The sponsoring unit urged members of the sexual violence prevention network, be they in the public or private sectors, to recommend themselves or others in earnest. People who have received help may also recommend social workers, police officers, medical and nursing personnel, or judges who have helped them. 

Chiu Wen-ta, Minister of Health and Welfare, stated that the MOHW, established in July 2013, has integrated the social administration and health administration departments and provided protective services with concentrated resources. The Department of Protective Services is responsible for offering assistance and support to the victims, while the Department of Mental and Oral Health is in charge of services related to the offenders’ therapy and guidance. With close collaboration across ministries and departments that govern police administration, health administration, education, judicial affairs, and labor affairs, Taiwan has achieved many firsts in Asia in promoting sexual violence prevention. For instance, the 113 Protection Hotline is the first anti-violence hotline launched in the world. Taiwan is also the first country in Asia to enforce three anti-violence laws (the Domestic Violence Prevention Act, Sexual Assault Crime Prevention Act and Sexual Harassment Prevention Act) and to launch an online library on anti-sexual violence. These achievements are attributed to workers in the fields of protection and prevention. This campaign invites everyone to learn about workers who have contributed to violence prevention in Taiwan and aims to extend and spread the spark of anti-violence. Therefore, the power of anti-violence will be expanded from the individual level to the entire community and the spirit of the purple ribbon anti-violence campaign will spread.