Rights Groups Demand Reform to Statute of Limitations for Sex Crimes

Civil rights groups in Taiwan are calling for the 20-year statute of limitations for prosecuting crimes of sexual violence to be extended.

Transcript

00:00The civil rights group gathered at Taiwan's legislature,

00:03marking one year since the constitutional court pledged

00:05to review the pre-2006 Statute of Limitations for Violent Sex Crimes.

00:11They say not much has been done to protect survivors' rights,

00:14pointing to recent legislative changes

00:16that have rendered the court unable to function in recent months.

00:20They are now calling on lawmakers to take action instead.

00:23If the Legislative Yuan is more active,

00:26we should directly propose amendments to the legislation.

00:30We think this is a very good way.

00:34The groups have been joined by more than 40 survivors of sexual violence,

00:3814 of whom are initiating legal proceedings.

00:41Some say it took a long time to come forward

00:43because they were assaulted when they were very young.

00:46I've been on this road for 20 years.

00:49When I first encountered this,

00:51I couldn't think of anything.

00:54I was only 14 years old when I was assaulted.

00:57Government figures show that over a thousand complaints

01:00involving sexual assault allegations

01:02were dismissed over the past 19 years

01:05because the Statute of Limitations ran out.

01:07The groups and survivors gathered here say

01:09that justice is not being served.

01:11Don't let the law's pursuit flag

01:14become a tool to protect teachers.

01:17Let the victims have a chance to pursue justice.

01:22Time is now running out for many of the remaining survivors.

01:25They're urging those in power to act swiftly

01:27to ensure legal protections keep pace with their need

01:30to find redress for the crimes committed against them.

01:33Clang Wong and Sani Qi for Taiwan Plus.