UN children's rights convention implemented in Taiwan

Want China Times, CNA 2014-11-22

Premier Jiang Yi-huah. (File photo/Guo Ji-quan)

The Convention on the Rights of the Child, which was adopted by the United Nations Nov. 20, 1989, was officially implemented in Taiwan Thursday, the Cabinet announced that day.

Premier Jiang Yi-huah said the convention's implementation has brought Taiwan's children's rights protection measures into compliance with international standards.

Although Taiwan is not a member of the UN, the Legislative Yuan passed the Enforcement Act of the Convention on the Rights of the Child May 20, thereby adopting the treaty into domestic law.

According to the Ministry of Health and Welfare, the law is designed to protect the rights of individuals under the age of 18 and covers content such as civil rights and right to liberty, health, welfare, education, leisure, culture, care and special protection.

Also that day, President Ma Ying-jeou met with a group of children to mark the Nov. 20 Universal Children's Day and the implementation of the convention in Taiwan.

Ma said that teachers and government officials should pay attention to the personal safety of children and ensure that students receive a complete education and learn the basic knowledge they need to acquire.

For example, Ma said, he required during his stint as Taipei mayor that all students in Taipei had to learn to swim, in light of the frequent drownings involving children and teenagers unable to swim.

At present, only 55% of elementary and secondary students around Taiwan pass swimming tests on average, well below the target of 85%, Ma said.

The president also pledged to improve the problem of child abuse in the country.

In 2013, he said, there were more than 16,000 reported cases of child abuse. Although the number was 2,800 fewer than in 2012, it remained at a high level, he added.

He said that in recent years, the government has been working further to protect children even when they are still in their mothers' wombs, by allowing expectant mothers to take pregnancy leave.

In addition, Taiwan is one of the few countries in Asia that offers paid parental leave to parents, he said, adding that the policy has so far benefited 250,000 people.

(By Kelven Huang and Y.F. Low)