On Friday, the UN’s Convention on the Rights of the Child International Review Committee released a report acknowledging Taiwan’s efforts to improve the welfare of children. Taiwan’s government introduced and amended a number of laws and programs to improve children’s rights, welfare, and mental health.
The three-day review meeting, which resulted in the report, included discussions with government departments, non-governmental organizations, and children and children’s representatives. The CRC committee put forward 72 concluding observations on important issues and will hold a press conference to discuss details.
The report highlights a number of laws passed in Taiwan in recent years, like the Suicide Prevention Act, the Protection of Children and Youths Welfare and Rights Act, Human Rights Action Plan 2022-2024, and the Policy for the Alternative Care of Children. The latter two were passed this year.
Laura Lundy, a professor at the School of Social Sciences at Queen's University Belfast, noted that Taiwan's child mortality rate is relatively high. She says the government should deepen its understanding of the problem by allowing children to be more involved in the discussion and to propose solutions.
Lundy says although the government has introduced many mental health resources, teachers and other officials have mostly not implemented them. She adds that not only legislation and law enforcement supervision should be strengthened, but societal attitudes need education and change.
Those seeking mental health counseling or related assistance can use toll-free hotlines 1925 and 1995.