News
Government to review foster care and child protection
Premier Chen Chien-jen says the government will work to improve Taiwan's foster care system, after a one-year-old boy died due to alleged abuse by his caregiver.
During a cabinet meeting on Thursday, Chen apologized to the family of the deceased child on behalf of the government, saying the system needs an overhaul, emphasizing the importance of reviewing any negligence found in the execution of visits by local governments and in follow-up reporting and investigation processes. Chen says he has instructed both central and local governments to jointly conduct a review of the foster care system and provide a report on its shortcomings within a month.
The cabinet's order came after news broke this week that a one-year-old boy died in December allegedly as a result of being abused over a four-month period by a licensed Taipei nanny, who was serving as his foster caregiver while the Child Welfare League Foundation tried to find an adoptive family for him.
Health and Welfare Minister Hsueh Jui-yuan (薛瑞元) has also announced plans to revise child protection laws in response. The revisions will include enhancing training standards for full-day caregivers and integrating the incident's review outcomes into the Protection of Children and Youths Welfare and Rights Act.
In related news, a children's rights group is proposing changes to Taiwan's child placement system. In a statement released on Thursday, the Children's Rights Alliance Taiwan proposed three changes: improving care and evaluation mechanisms in foster care and during the adoption process, amending articles relating to child placement in the Protection of Children and Youths Welfare and Rights Act, and making required check-ins by social workers more frequent.
CRAT says the government currently relies on social welfare groups to handle child placement before adoption and should provide clear guidance or regulations relating to placement procedures. It also says laws should clarify the rights and responsibilities between the competent authorities and social groups, as well as measures to follow.
CRAT says more than 500 children in Taiwan are currently going through adoption procedures as a result of their parents experiencing financial difficulties or lack of support from their biological families.
Meanwhile, Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an has pledged comprehensive reforms to strengthen the social safety net and protect children's rights more effectively. This includes proposals for a babysitter evaluation platform and improved medical and foster care standards to prevent such incidents in the future.
