Parent and children’s rights groups are calling on the government not to abolish Article 227 of the criminal law to protect children’s safety.
Their call came Tuesday after gay rights activists demanded that the government decriminalize those having sex with children and youths.
Under Article 227, it is stipulated that those having sex with youths between the ages of 14 and 16 will be sentenced up to seven years in prison. A stiffer punishment is meted out to those who have sex with children under the age of 14 as they will face up to 10 years in prison.
Once abolished, the head of a parents’ association, Su Ching-fong, said anyone can coax children and youths into having sex with them easily, and with impunity.
“Our association asks the [government] not to hurt naïve and physically-immature children," said Su.
"While their sex rights are a human right, that doesn’t mean that their human rights can be [interpreted] in any way they like."