The Statistical Analysis on Abused Children

July 25, 2000

Children are the future of a country. However, in recently years, there have been cases of child abuse in Taiwan over and over. For example, a three-year old girl in San Chi died of abuse by her aunt. A girl in Pin Cheng died of abuse by fighting parents. The cases were horrifying. Institutions of children welfare assessed the children’s human right situation in Taiwan as unsatisfying for three years in a roll. What was the actual condition of abused children? There is a need for further study.

In 1999, there were 4,249 abused children in Taiwan Area. There were 4,944 persons abusing the children. Among the abusers, 2,984 were male (accounting for 60%) and 1,960 were female (accounting for 40%). The abusers were mostly the children’s parents. The abusers mostly received education from junior high schools. Children were abused mostly physically and mentally.

I. Statistics on abused children by status

In 1999, there were 4,249 abused children in Taiwan Area. There were 4,944 persons abusing the children. Among the abusers, 2,984 were male (accounting for 60.4%) and 1,960 were female (accounting for 39.6%). The abusers were mostly the children’s parents (3,959 persons), accounting for 80.1% of all abusers. The number of abusers being father of the child was 1.5 times of mother. Some abusers were relatives of the children (227 persons), accounting for 9.1%. Some abusers were people taking care of the children (183 persons), accounting for 3.7%.

II. Statistics on abusers by education

In 1999, persons abusing children mostly had education from junior high schools (1,415 persons) and they accounted for 28.6% of all abusers. 933 persons had education from elementary schools or lower and accounted for 18.9%. 859 persons had their education from senior high schools and they accounted for 17.4%. The abusers generally had a lower education background.

III. Statistics on abused children by various counties and cities

In 1999, Taipei County had the highest number of abused children (1,286 persons) and they accounted for 26% of all abused children. Taoyuan County had 730 abused children, accounting for 14.8%. Taipei Municipality had 602 abused children, accounting for 12.2%. Penghu County had the lowest number of abused children (7 persons) and they accounted for 0.1%. In the three counties/cities with highest number of abuse cases, most abusers were parents. It showed that parents were the main source of abuse. Others accounted for relatively less percentage of abuse cases. In Taipei County (having the highest number of abuse cases), abusers mostly had their education from junior high schools and elementary schools. In Taoyuan County, abusers mostly had their education from junior high school and senior high schools. In Taipei Municipality, abusers mostly had their education from senior high schools and colleges.

IV. Statistics on protection services for children

In 1999, there were 9,402 telephone calls providing consulting services for children protection. There were 2,532 persons receiving consulting services in person. There were 431 cases of other type of consultation. Totally, there were 5,058 cases. Among the cases, 2,544 cases involved physically/mentally abuse (accounting for 50.3% of all cases). 378 cases involved abandonment (accounting for 7.5%). 109 cases involved depriving children of their mind and intelligence (accounting for 2.2%). Thus, more than 50% of child abuse cases involved physical and mental abuse.