Brief synopsis/background info on child welfare in Taiwan

• Child welfare was first protected under the Child Welfare Law of 1973, which most recently was amended to become the Children and Youth Welfare Law of 2003 to incorporate principles of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. CWLF was actively involved in the inception of this law as well as the amendments which have followed. The Taiwan government has worked to protect the rights of children (under the age of 12) and youth (aged 12-18) and many legislative decisions are made in favour of the best interests of the child.
• The many existing social problems involving children include high rates of child abuse, neglect, trafficking and abandonment. Additionally, the recent trends of increased divorce rates, single-parent families and dual parent working families have also had an impact on children and youth. Furthermore, the devastating earthquake of September 21, 1999 has had a long-lasting effect on the many children who were orphaned, families who lost members, as well as the entire country which suffered extreme losses and damages.
• CWLF works to address each of these areas on many different levels. From working with children and families using therapeutic and educational interventions to initiating national campaigns to advocating for legislative change, CWLF remains in the forefront of improving and protecting the lives of children and families across the nation.