Child protection failures in Taipei: Council questions city government's handling of girl's alleged exploitation

Child welfare advocates are questioning Taipei's handling of a case involving a ten-year-old girl allegedly sexually exploited by her mother. Despite reports and over 700 visits spanning 240 days, the child was not placed in protective care. The Taipei City Social Affairs Bureau cited the girl's unwillingness to be placed as the reason, a justification strongly contested by the Garden of Hope Foundation.

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The government should prioritize 'child safety first.'

Gwendoline Wang, CEO of the Garden of Hope Foundation, argued that child safety should be the paramount concern. She questioned the bureau's assessment, pointing out that the child's self-harm indicated significant distress, suggesting that her reluctance to leave her mother might stem from complex factors rather than a simple desire to remain in an unsafe environment. Wang also highlighted the mother's alleged involvement in sex work within the home and the potential exploitation of other children in the family.

The foundation emphasized that the effectiveness of interventions, not just the number of visits, is crucial. They questioned how the bureau could be assured of the mother's change in behavior or the child's safety, especially given the child's self-harm. The bureau's explanation for not placing the child earlier centered on the principle of keeping children with their parents unless there is immediate danger, and respecting the child's wishes, in line with the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

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The key is not the number of times, but whether it is effective!

However, after a press conference held by city councilors and the foundation, the girl was urgently placed in institutional care. The Social Affairs Bureau stated this decision was made due to observed changes in the dynamics between the child, her guardians, and her mother, and to prevent the child from being caught in the middle. Wang suggested that placement with relatives or foster families should be prioritized, and that even non-relatives with a strong bond could be trained as foster parents.

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If the child does not want to be placed, how can she self-harm?