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Government Laws

Laws Overview

ECPAT Taiwan recently prepared updated information on Taiwanese laws relevant to trafficking. This information on updated laws is available for download in MS Word format.

The Statute for the Prevention of Child and Juvenile Sexual Trafficking 1995
This Law empowers authorities to prosecute any person who forces a child below the age of 18 to engage in sex or sells or pawns such a child by other means. Provisions in the Criminal Code could be used to prosecute traffickers in persons above the age of 18.¹

The Law To Suppress Sexual Transactions Involving Children and Juveniles 1995 ²
The purpose of this law is to prevent and eliminate the incidence of sexual abuse of children and juveniles.

Entry, Exit, and Immigration Law 1999
This law provides strict sentencing guidelines for alien smuggling. Several cases have been brought before the courts under this law.

Taiwan Child Welfare Law 1993
The juvenile welfare law enables juvenile welfare bodies, prosecutors, and victims to apply to courts for termination of guardianship of parents and the appointment of qualified guardians if parents have forced their children into prostitution. In 1999, the Bureau of Child Welfare under the Ministry of the Interior was formed.

In 1999 the Legislative Yuan banned prostitution.

¹ US State Department 2002 Human Rights Report Taiwan ROC
² http://www.ecpat.org.tw/images/law.pdf