No. 19 (12/16/97 - 12/31/97)
Stage I:
Taipei City Mayor Chen publicized certain legal prostitutes'
asset information to support his assertion that not every prostitute
was economically disadvantaged. This action was severely criticized
by some City Council persons as an infringement of the civil right
of privacy of those involved. (1997. 12.18 China Times.)
Stage II:
Taipei City Council voted against the City Government's
objections on "Regulations of Legal Prostitution in Taipei City,"
which stipulated a two-year adjustment period for those licensed
prostitutes. (1997. 12.18 China Times.)
Stage III:
Certain religious groups joined hands in condemning
prostitution and called the City Council's proposed adjustment
period as a "compromise to sinful life styles." Some religious
leaders even offer economic assistance should those prostitutes
fall into economic hardship after their license were revoked.
(1997.12.22, China Times.)
Stage IV:
The Legal Prostitute's Association brought a petition to
the Control Yuan. The representative who received them promised
to call a meeting with City Government officials.
(1997.12.25, China Times.)
Stage V:
During Mayor Chen's year end press conference, supporters
of legal prostitution surprised Chen by an open "challenge" to
have a public debate with the Mayor. Minor physical conflict
resulted in a few wounded on both sides. Chen resorted to a
United Nations' pact against prostitution. His argument was
forcefully met by the representative of the United Front of
Women's Labor, Wong Fang-Ping. Wong pointed out that the spirits
of the said UN pact were to prohibit slavery and to prevent coerced
prostitution and exploitation. In addition, UN passed an act called
"The Decriminalization of Sex Work."
(1997.12.30, China Times, Liberty Times.)
Statistic shows that, among over one thousand commercial airline pilots in Tiawan, there are only twelve women. Some airlines still maintain the view that women are unfit to perform as pilots because they may get pregnant, get distracted by family and are emotionally less stable than their male counterparts. One the other hand, the very first female airplane captain in Taiwan, who started out as an in-flight attendant in the China Airline, will commence her flight early this year. (1997.12.22, China Times.)
According to Professor Cheng Ling-Fang of Tung-Hai University, in the medical profession, women often cannot achieve as much as men. Half a century ago, an aspiring Taiwanese woman had to go to Japan to attend the medical school. After World War two, women were only allowed to practice in few marginal areas. Between 1965 and 1980, female residents were often forced to give up their positions to male interns who recent finished their military service. Even as of today, many hospitals still impose restrictions on the number of female physicians employed. (1997.12.22, China Times.)
The Ministry of Domestic Affair has drafted "The Regulations and Management of Files on Convicted Sex Offenders." It is designed to make the database accessible nation-wide in order to improve on preventive measures against sexual violence.(1997.12.18, China Times.)
The Ministry has also begun talks with local county level government about legal as well medical subsidies for victim of sexual violence.
The following changes of the Family Code of Civil Law were passed by the Committee of Judiciary in Legislature Yuan.