A total of 2,086 sexual harassment complaints were filed last year, up from 662 recorded in 2017, the latest Ministry of Health and Welfare data showed.
Fines totaling more than NT$9.11 million (US$297,178) were handed down in 489 cases last year, the ministry said.
In 2017, a total of NT$4.12 million was issued in fines for 192 cases, Department of Protective Services Director-General Chang Hsiu-yuan (張秀鴛) said yesterday.
Photo: Chiu Chih-jou, Taipei Times
“The number does not mean that sexual harassment is a prevalent phenomenon in Taiwan. Rather, more victims of sexual harassment who did not know how to file a complaint or chose to remain silent for fear of reprisal are now willing to speak up,” Chang said.
Of the sexual harassment cases filed last year, 1,414 involved female victims, the ministry said.
In 734 of the cases, the complainants were aged 18 to 30, while in 213 cases, the complainants were younger than 18.
The data showed that 463 of the complainants were students and 382 were working in the service industry.
Of the total, 1,000 cases, or 66 percent, involved harassment by strangers, while harassment by friends and people met over the Internet totaled 92 and 79 cases respectively.
The data showed that 372 of the reported sexual harassment cases occurred online and through text messaging apps, 293 occurred on the streets, 197 occurred on public transport systems, 182 occurred in private residences and 109 occurred inside department stores, shopping centers or supermarkets.
Regarding the type of sexual harassment encountered by victims, 450 involved being kissed, hugged or groped without consent.
Other types of sexual harassment involved being exposed to pornographic images or texts (329 cases), being humiliated by words or actions (209 cases), peeking (192 cases), looking under skirts (120 cases), stalking (88 cases) and perpetrators exposing their private parts (64 cases).
“Perpetrators unanimously claimed that they meant no harm,” Chang said.
They were not aware that “a kiss or touch could constitute sexual harassment if the victims objectively felt they were being sexually harassed or their emotions and work were affected,” she said.
“Some people find it humorous to send pornographic pictures and video to others, but that could be sexual harassment,” she added.
Chang also said that the remarks used to comment on the victims often contained gender bias.
“Some remarks made the victims feel that they were at fault for being sexually harassed, because they dressed ‘too provocatively.’ Such comments show that many lack understanding of gender equality,” Chang said.
According to Article 20 of the Sexual Harassment Prevention Act (性騷擾防治法), people who sexually harass others can be fined NT$10,000 to NT$100,000, she said.
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