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Title: Child and Youth Sexual Exploitation Prevention Act CH
Amended Date: 2023-02-15
Category: Ministry of Health and Welfare(衛生福利部)
Chapter I General Provisions
Article 1
This Act is enacted to protect children and youths from all forms of sexual exploitation and safeguard the sound development of the physical and mental health of children and youths.
Article 2
Sexual exploitation of a child or a youth mentioned herein refers to any of the following conducts:
1.causing a child or a youth to engage in any sexual intercourse or lewd acts in exchange for consideration;
2.taking advantage of a child or a youth by engaging the said child or the said youth in any sexual intercourse or lewd acts for others to watch;
3.filming, producing, distributing, broadcasting, delivering, publicly displaying, or selling any sexual image or video of a child or a youth, or any drawing, audio recording, or any other item of a child or a youth that is sexually relevant and, by objective standards, arouses sexual desire or shame; or
4.causing a child or a youth to act as a host or a hostess in a bar or a club or engage in any acts associated with any escort companion services, singing companion services or dancing companion services involving any sexual activity, or any other similar acts.
A victim mentioned herein refers to a child or a youth who is, or who is suspected of being, sexually exploited.
Article 3
A competent authority mentioned herein refers to the Ministry of Health and Welfare at the central government level, the municipal governments at the special municipality level, and the city (county) governments at the city (county) level. The competent authorities shall set up a separate budget and appoint dedicated personnel to perform work tasks on the prevention of sexual exploitation against children or youths.
A competent regulatory authority carrying out regulatory activities relating to interior affairs, legal affairs and law enforcement, education-related affairs, national defense, cultural affairs, economic affairs, labor affairs, affairs in connection with transportation and communications operations and enterprises, or affairs in connection with telecommunications and broadcasting services, shall make utmost efforts to help with and carry out educational campaigns (for the prevention of sexual exploitation against children or youths) when any duties or responsibilities of the said competent regulatory authority involves any work task on the prevention of sexual exploitation against a child or a youth.
A competent authority and other relevant authorities mentioned in the preceding Paragraph shall, through the consultation meeting(s) convened by the said competent authority, jointly report on and review the performance and outcomes of work tasks such as educational campaigns, rescue and protection (of victims), punishments for offenders, placement (of victims), and services (to victims), on a regular basis.
A competent authority shall invite relevant scholars or experts, representatives of relevant private institutions or organizations, and representatives of the competent regulatory authorities (to the consultation meeting(s) convened by the said competent authority) to coordinate with each other on, study, review, consult together about, and promote and implement the policies on the prevention of sexual exploitation against a child or a youth.
The number of scholars, experts, and representatives of relevant private institutions or organizations mentioned in the preceding Paragraph shall not be less than half (of the attendees attending a consultation meeting mentioned in the preceding Paragraph), and the number of either gender of the attendees attending a consultation meeting mentioned in the preceding Paragraph shall not be less than one third (of the attendees attending the said consultation meeting).
Article 4
Schools at the secondary and lower levels shall organize educational courses or campaigns on the prevention of sexual exploitation against a child or a youth each academic year.
An educational course or campaign on the prevention of sexual exploitation against a child or a youth mentioned in the preceding Paragraph shall include all of the following:
1.campaigns against sex as the subject of transactions;
2.awareness of the crimes of sexual exploitation;
3.situations where one may be subjected to sexual exploitation;
4.knowledge of online safety and proper use of the Internet; and
5.other matters related to the prevention of sexual exploitation.
Chapter II Rescue and Protection
Article 5
The competent central authority carrying out regulatory activities relating to legal affairs and law enforcement and the competent central authority carrying out regulatory activities relating to interior affairs shall appoint respective dedicated subsidiary agencies to direct and superintend the local district prosecutors offices and the local police departments in the investigation of crimes defined in this Act. The local district prosecutors offices and the local police departments shall appoint dedicated personnel who have received professional training to handle cases (involving the sexual exploitation of a child or a youth) where this Act applies.
Article 6
In order to protect children and youths from sexual exploitation, the competent authorities at the special municipality or city (county) level shall offer a runaway child or a runaway youth (a child or a youth who left his or her family) emergency shelter, counseling, care, contact, and other necessary services.
Article 7
Medical personnel, social workers, educational personnel, caregivers, migration management personnel, employees of immigration service agencies, household registration personnel, village officers, police personnel, judicial personnel, employees of tourism businesses, employees of electronic game arcade businesses, employees of computer entertainment businesses, employment service personnel, personnel of condominium management services, and other personnel responsible for the welfare affairs of children or youths who learn of a victim during the performance of their statutory duties or work shall immediately, no later than twenty-four (24) hours following their learning of the said victim, report the said victim to the competent authority at the special municipality or city (county) level.
The personnel mentioned in the preceding Paragraph who learn of a criminal suspect (as defined in Chapter IV) during the performance of their statutory duties or work shall immediately, no later than twenty-four (24) hours following their learning of the said suspect, report the said suspect to the authorities or personnel prescribed in Article 5.
Any individual who learns of a victim or a criminal suspect defined in Chapter IV may report the said victim or the said suspect to the competent authority at the special municipality or city (county) level, or the authorities or personnel prescribed in Article 5.
The personally identifiable information of a reporter mentioned in the three preceding Paragraphs shall be kept confidential.
When the competent authority at the special municipality or city (county) level receiving a report described in Paragraph 1 of this Article learns that an offender is a child or a youth, the said competent authority should refer the said offender, in accordance with relevant laws and regulations, to the respective responsible authorities, which will offer education, psychological therapy or counseling, legal counseling, or other services to the said offender.
Article 8
An internet platform provider, an internet application service provider, or an internet access service provider, who learns of any matters suspected to be any of the offenses prescribed in Chapter IV from any internet content protection agencies, competent authorities, police agencies, or other agencies, shall first proactively restrict the browsing of, or remove, the webpage(s) information (materials or content) related to any of the offenses prescribed in Chapter IV.
The offending webpage(s) information (materials or content) mentioned in the preceding Paragraph, as well as the personal data and internet usage records of a suspect, shall be retained (by the responsible internet platform provider(s), the responsible internet application service provider(s), or the responsible internet access service provider(s) mentioned in the preceding Paragraph) for one hundred eighty (180) days and shall be provided to judicial authorities and police agencies for investigations.
The competent authority at the special municipality or city (county) level may assist a victim in submitting a request to the responsible prosecutor during the investigation, or to the competent court during the trial, to reproduce (any of) the confiscated sexual image(s) or video(s) of the said victim. An internet platform provider, an internet application service provider, or an internet access service provider mentioned in Paragraph 1 of this Article shall, upon notification by the competent authority at the special municipality or city (county) level, compare, remove, or take down the sexual image(s) or video(s) of a victim insofar as technically feasible.
Article 9
In the event of an interrogation (or questioning) of a victim during an inquiry, an investigation, or a trial, police and judicial personnel shall notify the competent authority at the special municipality or city (county) level of the need to assign a social worker to be present to accompany the said victim and shall allow such accompanying social worker to state his or her opinion.
If a victim has been legally questioned during the aforesaid investigation or trial, and the said victim’s statement is clear enough without requiring any further questioning, the said victim shall not be summoned again.
Article 10
When a victim is being interrogated (or questioned) or examined during an investigation or a trial, a guardian, a lineal relative by blood or a collateral relative by blood within the third degree of kinship, the spouse, a parent, a family member, a physician, a psychologist, a counselor, or a social worker of the said victim may be present to accompany the said victim and state his or her opinion. The same rule shall apply to an inquiry (conducted) by judicial police officers or judicial police.
The preceding Paragraph does not apply when a person eligible to be present to accompany a victim is a suspect or a defendant of a crime prescribed in this Act.
Article 11
In addition to the protection provided pursuant to this Act, Articles 4 to 14, Paragraph 2 of Article 15, Article 20, and Article 21 of the Witness Protection Act may, when the responsible prosecutor or the presiding judge considers it necessary, apply to a witness, a victim, a reporter, an informant, or a complainant of a case involving sexual exploitation.
Article 12
When questioning a child or a youth during an investigation or a trial, the responsible prosecutor or the presiding judge shall attend to the personal safety of the said child or the said youth and institute an environment and measures to secure the safety of the said child or the said youth. The responsible prosecutor or the presiding judge shall adopt proper isolation procedures if necessary. Moreover, the responsible prosecutor or the presiding judge may, upon application or sua sponte, conduct the questioning of a child or a youth outside the court.
The preceding Paragraph shall apply to an inquiry (conducted) by judicial police officers or judicial police.
Article 13
A statement made by a child or a youth during an investigation (conducted) by a prosecutor investigator, a judicial police officer, or a judicial police, which has been especially proven credible, and which is essential to prove the facts of a criminal offense, may be admitted as evidence, despite any of the following conditions occurs to the said child or the said youth during a trial:
1.the said child or the said youth is unable to make a statement due to physical or psychological trauma;
2.when appearing before the court, the said child or the said youth, due to physical or psychological stress, is unable to make a complete statement or refuses to make a statement during questioning or examination; or
3.the said child or the said youth cannot be summoned or fails to appear after being summoned because the said child or the said youth is not in the Taiwan area or the whereabouts of the said child or the said youth is unknown.
Article 14
No publicity material, publication, broadcasting services, television services, internet sources, or any other types of media may report or cover the name, date of birth, residential address, school, or any other personally identifiable information of a victim.
Unless the law provides otherwise, one shall keep confidential any personally identifiable information of a victim known to him or in his possession by reason of his office or employment.
Documents made known to the public by administrative agencies or judicial agencies may not reveal any personally identifiable information about a victim. However, this restriction shall not apply if the law provides otherwise.
Any person other than those mentioned in the three preceding Paragraphs may not, through the media or any other means, reveal to the public or disclose the name of or any other personally identifiable information of a victim.
Chapter III Placement and Services
Article 15
Within twenty-four (24) hours after finding out and rescuing a victim, the responsible prosecutor, judicial police officer, or judicial police shall transfer the said victim to the competent local authority at the special municipality or city (county) level.
The competent authority at the special municipality or city (county) level mentioned in the preceding Paragraph shall immediately conduct an assessment on a victim (transferred to the said authority in accordance with the preceding Paragraph) in terms of the school enrollment, employment, adaptation to life, and personal safety of the said victim, as well as the functions of the said victim’s family in offering protection and education (to the said victim), and proceed with any of the followings if the said victim is identified as a subject for protection:
1.informing any of the parents, guardian(s), or relatives of the said victim to bring the said victim home and offer proper protection and education (to the said victim);
2.transferring the said victim to an appropriate place that offers emergency placement, protection, and services to the said victim; or
3.offering any other necessary protection and assistance to the said victim.
In the event that a victim mentioned in the preceding Paragraph is not identified as a subject for protection, the competent authority at the special municipality or city (county) level may offer help, depending on what the said victim needs, to the said victim by referring the said victim to any relevant services or sources.
The preceding two Paragraphs shall apply when the competent authority of a special municipality or city (or county) receives a report about or discovers a victim or when a victim seeks help by himself or herself.
Article 16
Within seventy-two (72) hours following (the time of) an emergency placement of a victim by a competent authority at the special municipality or city (county) level pursuant to the preceding Article, the said competent authority should conduct an assessment on whether the said victim requires any further placement. If, following the aforesaid assessment, the competent authority at the special municipality or city (county) level finds that a victim requires no further placement, the said competent authority should no longer place the said victim under any placement and shall hand over the said victim to (the care of) the parents or guardian(s) of the said victim or any other suitable person. If, following the aforesaid assessment, the competent authority at the special municipality or city (county) level finds that a victim requires further placement, the said competent authority should submit a report to and file a motion requesting a competent court to issue a ruling (on whether the said victim requires further placement).
If a competent court, following its receipt of a motion filed pursuant to the preceding Paragraph, finds that a victim requires no further placement, the said court shall issue a ruling ordering that no further placement (is required) for the said victim and that the competent authority at the special municipality or city (county) level shall hand over the said victim to (the care of) the parents or guardian(s) of the said victim or any other suitable person. If a competent court, following its receipt of a motion filed pursuant to the preceding Paragraph, finds that a victim requires further placement, the said competent court shall order the competent authority at the special municipality or city (county) level to place the said victim at a child and youth welfare institution, a foster family, or any other appropriate medical or educational institution for a period of not more than three (3) months.
During the period of placement of a victim, a competent court may, sua sponte or upon a motion filed by the competent authority at the special municipality or city (county) level, by the said victim, by the parents or guardian(s) of the said victim, or by any other suitable person, issue a ruling ordering to halt the placement of the said victim, and that the competent authority at the special municipality or city (county) level shall hand over the said victim to (the care of) the parents or guardian(s) of the said victim, or any other suitable person, for protection and education.
The competent authority at the special municipality or city (county) level may continue placing a victim under placement before receiving a (court) ruling mentioned in the second Paragraph (of this Article) above.
Article 17
The seventy-two (72) hours period prescribed in the first Paragraph of the preceding Article shall commence from the moment when a victim is placed under emergency placement pursuant to Subparagraph 2 of Paragraph 2 of Article 15. However, none of the following counts in the aforesaid seventy-two (72) hours period:
1.the duration of escort;
2.the duration of a delay caused by any traffic obstructions;
3.the duration during which the conduction of an assessment on whether a victim requires placement is impossible due to any other laws or regulations; or
4.the duration of a delay caused by any other force majeure events.
Article 18
The competent authority at the special municipality or city (county) level shall, within forty-five (45) days of placement of a victim, submit a pretrial report to a competent court and file a motion requesting a court ruling (on whether the said victim requires any placement). The aforesaid court may order the said competent authority to amend the said pretrial report within seven (7) days (following the said court order) if the said court finds the said pretrial report incomplete.
A pretrial report mentioned in the preceding Paragraph shall contain a placement assessment and suggested treatments (for a victim). The content(s), items, and format of a pretrial report shall be formulated by the competent central authority.
Article 19
Upon a motion filed in accordance with the preceding Article, a competent court shall, within seven (7) days following the completion of the investigation of relevant evidence, issue any of the following rulings with respect to a victim:
1.when a competent court finds that a victim requires no placement, the said court shall issue a ruling ordering that the said victim requires no placement and shall be handed over to (the care of) the parents or guardian(s) of the said victim or any other suitable person. The same rule shall apply to foreigners without valid visitor or residence permits, people of the Mainland Area, residents of Hong Kong and Macau, and nationals without registered permanent residence in the Taiwan area;
2.when a competent court finds that a victim requires placement, the said court shall issue a ruling ordering the competent authority at the special municipality or city (county) level to place the said victim under placement at a child and youth welfare institution, a foster family, a transition school, or any other appropriate medical or educational institution established or commissioned by the said competent authority, for a period of not more than two years; or
3.a ruling ordering (the adoption of) any other appropriate treatments.
Prior to the repatriation of a victim who is not placed under any placement pursuant to the latter part of the first Subparagraph of the preceding Paragraph, the competent authority at the special municipality or city (county) level shall commission or subsidize a private organization to continue offering counseling (to the said victim). The competent immigration authority shall arrange for repatriation (of the said victim) as soon as possible and safely repatriate the said victim.
Article 20
Any of the competent authority at the special municipality or city (county)level, the responsible prosecutor, the parents or guardian(s) of a victim, or any other suitable person who disagrees with a court ruling may file an interlocutory appeal within ten (10) days of receipt of the said ruling.
A ruling issued by the competent court of interlocutory appeal is subject to no further appeal.
The enforcement of the original (court) ruling shall not be halted during the process of interlocutory appeal.
Article 21
After placing a victim under placement in accordance with Article 19, the competent authority shall conduct an assessment (on the said victim) every three (3) months. If, following an assessment mentioned above, the competent authority finds that a victim requires no further placement, that the said victim needs to be transferred to a different placement facility, or that the said victim requires any other more appropriate treatments, the said competent authority may file a motion requesting a competent court to issue a ruling ordering the halt of placement of the said victim, the transfer of the said victim to a different placement facility, or (the adoption of) any other appropriate treatments.
If, prior to the end of (the period of) placement of a victim ordered by a competent court in accordance with Subparagraph 2 of Paragraph 2 of Article 19, the competent authority at the special municipality or city (county) level finds that the said victim requires further placement, the said competent authority should, within forty-five (45) days before the end of (the period of) the said victim’s placement, submit an assessment report to a competent court and request the said court to issue a ruling ordering the extension of placement of the said victim. The period of each extension (of placement of a victim) shall not exceed one (1) year. However, the placement of a victim shall not be extended beyond the twentieth (20th) birthday of the said victim.
If an assessment of a victim, who reaches the age of eighteen (18) during the placement (period) of the said victim, finds that the said victim requires further placement, the said victim may be placed under further placement until the end of placement (period) of the said victim or until the twentieth (20th) birthday of the said victim.
In the case that a victim is exempted from placement, that a victim requires no placement, or that the placement of a victim is halted, the competent authority at the special municipality or city (county) level shall assist the said victim and the family of the said victim in making necessary arrangements beforehand for the return of the said victim.
Article 22
The competent central authority carrying out regulatory activities relating to education-related affairs, and the competent central authority, shall jointly or work in coordination with the competent authorities at the special municipality or city (county) level to establish halfway schools that offer placements to victims.
The organization of and the education offered at halfway schools shall be otherwise formulated in the form of statutes.
Article 23
The competent authority at the special municipality or city (county) level shall assign (, designate, or appoint) a social worker (or social workers) to offer counseling treatment(s) to a victim subjected to a ruling issued by a competent court pursuant to the former part of Subparagraph 1, or Subparagraph 3, of Paragraph 1 of Article 19 for a period of at least one (1) year or until the eighteen (18th) birthday of the said victim.
If, during the counseling period specified in the preceding Paragraph, the competent authority at the special municipality or city (county) level, the parents or guardian(s) of a victim, or any other suitable person finds that the counseling treatment(s) offered to a victim is unhelpful or that a victim requires (further) placement, the said authority may, sua sponte or upon request by the parents or guardian(s) of the said victim or by any other suitable person, file a motion, together with evidence and a statement of cause prepared by the said authority, by the said parents or the said guardian(s) of the said victim, or by the said suitable person, requesting a competent court to issue a ruling pursuant to Subparagraph 2 of Paragraph 1 of Article 19.
Article 24
Those to whom have been entrusted the care of a victim, as ruled by a competent court pursuant to Paragraph 2 of Article 16 or Paragraph 1 of Article 19, shall assist the social worker(s) assigned (, designated, or appointed) by the competent authority at the special municipality or city (county) level in the counseling (treatment(s)) of the victim.
Article 25
The competent authority at the special municipality or city (county) level shall make proper arrangements, in accordance with with the Protection of Children and Youths Welfare and Rights Act, for victims who are unable to return home after they have been exempted from placement or the placement has been halted or terminated.
Article 26
The provisions of the Juvenile Delinquency Act and the Social Order Maintenance Act do not apply to a child or a youth who is, or who is in danger of being, subjected to sexual exploitation when the said child or the said youth has not committed any other crime(s).
If a child or a youth mentioned in the preceding Paragraph commits any other crime, the said child or the said youth shall be referred to the competent authority at the special municipality or city (county) level pursuant to Article 15 before the referral of the said child or the said youth to a competent juvenile court in accordance with the Juvenile Delinquency Act.
Article 27
During the period of placement, or protection and education, of a victim, the competent authority at the special municipality or city (county) level, or the institution, school, foster family, or any other suitable person entrusted with the care of the said victim as ruled by a competent court, may, within the scope of placement or protection and education to the said victim, exercise parental rights and assume parental obligations over minor children.
Article 28
In the event that a parent, an adoptive parent, or a guardian commits any of the offenses prescribed in Articles 32 to 38, or Paragraph 1 or Paragraph 3 of Article 39, against a child, an adopted child, or a ward, any of which is under the age of eighteen (18), the said victim, a prosecutor, the next of kin of the said victim, the competent authority at the special municipality or city (county) level, a child and youth welfare institution, or any other interested parties, may submit an application to a competent court (for a court order) to suspend the (exercise of) parental rights and responsibilities of the said parent, the said adoptive parent, or the guardian’s rights and responsibilities of the said guardian, and to appoint another (alternative) guardian. If an adoptive parent commits any of the offenses mentioned above against an adoptive child, the aforesaid application may contain a request requesting the competent court to terminate the adoption (relationship between the said victim and the said adoptive parent).
When appointing a guardian or an alternative guardian for a victim pursuant to the preceding Paragraph, a court may (by issuing a ruling to) appoint the competent authority at the special municipality or city (county) level, a child and youth welfare institution, or any other suitable person as the guardian of the said victim. Moreover, (the ruling of) the said court may direct specific ways for the exercise of guardianship, may order the parents, the original guardian(s), or any other child support obligor(s) of the said victim to hand over the said child (the said victim) or to pay the appointed guardian or the appointed alternative guardian an appropriate amount of maintenance and remuneration, may issue an order demanding any necessary action, or may decide on necessary matters.
A court ruling mentioned in the preceding Paragraph may serve as a writ of enforcement.
Article 29
The competent authority at the special municipality or city (county) level may order (require) the parents or guardian(s) of a victim, or any other person who actually takes care of a victim, to take parental education and counseling for a period of not less than eight (8) hours and not more than fifty (50) hours, and may implement a family treatment program.
Article 30
The competent authority at the special municipality or city (county) level shall offer counseling treatment(s) to, and follow up on, a victim who falls under any of the following circumstances and shall provide the said victim with assistance in school enrollment, employment, or independent living, or with any other necessary assistance for a period of at least one (1) year or until the twentieth (20th) birthday of the said victim:
1.the said victim is treated pursuant to Subparagraphs 1 and 3 of Paragraph 2 of thecthe5;
2.the said victim is no longer placed under any (further) placement pursuant to Paragraph 1 or Paragraph 2theAthele 16;
3.the said victim was placed in a child and youth welfare institution, foster family, or any other appropriate medical or educational institution pursuant to Paragraph 2 of Article 16 and returned to the said victim’s home following the expiration of the placement period;
4.the said victim is subject to a court ruling, issued pursuant to Paragraph 3 of Article 16, ordering to halt the placement of the said victim and hand over the said victim to (the care of) the parents or the guardian(s) of the said victim, or any other suitable person, for protection and education;
5.the placement offered to the said victim pursuant to Subparagraph 2 of Paragraph 1 of Article 19 expires; or
6.the placement offered to the said victim expires or is halted under a court ruling issued pursuant to Article 21.
The authorities for education-related affairs, labor affairs, health affairs, or police administrative affairs shall fully cooperate with the competent authority at the special municipality or city (county) level in offering the counseling treatment(s) and follow-up mentioned in the preceding Paragraph.
Chapter IV Penal Provisions
Article 31
Any person who engages in sexual intercourse or lewd acts with a minor under the age of sixteen (16) in exchange for consideration shall be subject to the punishment prescribed under the Criminal Code.
Any person aged eighteen (18) or older who engages in sexual intercourse or lewd acts with a minor over the age of sixteen (16) but under the age of eighteen (18) in exchange for consideration shall be subject to imprisonment of not more than three (3) years or detention, or in lieu thereof or in addition thereto a fine of not more than one hundred thousand New Taiwan dollars (NT$100,000).
Article 32
Any person who, by means of inducement, offering shelter, recruitment, arrangement, assistance, or any other means, causes a child or a youth to engage in sexual intercourse or lewd acts in exchange for consideration shall be subject to imprisonment for not less than one (1) year and not more than seven (7) years, or in addition thereto, a fine of up to three million New Taiwan dollars (NT$3,000,000). A person who commits any of the aforesaid offenses by (means of) fraud shall be subject to the same sentence prescribed for any such offense.
Any person who commits any of the offenses prescribed in the preceding Paragraph with intent to make profits shall be subject to imprisonment for not less than three (3) years and not more than ten (10) years, and in addition thereto, a fine of up to five million New Taiwan dollars (NT$5,000,000).
Any person who arranges for, delivers, receives, transports, or harbors a victim of any of the offenses prescribed in the two preceding Paragraphs, or causes any such victim to be hidden, shall be subject to imprisonment for not less than one (1) year and not more than seven (7) years, or in addition thereto, a fine of up to three million New Taiwan dollars (NT$3,000,000).
Any person who arranges for the delivery, receipt, transport, or harboring of a victim mentioned in the preceding Paragraph shall be subject to the same sentence prescribed in the preceding Paragraph.
An attempt to commit any of the offenses prescribed in any of the four preceding Paragraphs is punishable.
Article 33
Any person who, by means of violence, coercion, intimidation, control, drugs, hypnosis, or any other means against the free will of the child or the youth concerned, causes a child or a youth to engage in sexual intercourse or lewd acts in exchange for consideration, shall be subject to imprisonment for not less than seven (7) years, or in addition thereto, a fine of up to seven million New Taiwan dollars (NT$7,000,000).
Any person who commits any of the offenses prescribed in the preceding Paragraph with intent to make profits shall be subject to imprisonment for not less than ten (10) years, and in addition thereto, a fine of up to ten million New Taiwan dollars (NT$10,000,000).
Any person who arranges for, delivers, receives, transports, or harbors a victim mentioned in the two preceding Paragraphs, or causes any such victim to be hidden, shall be subject to imprisonment for not less than three (3) years and not more than ten (10) years, or in addition thereto, a fine of up to five million New Taiwan dollars (NT$5,000,000).
Any person who arranges for the delivery, receipt, transport, or harboring of a victim mentioned in the preceding Paragraph shall be subject to the same sentence prescribed in the preceding Paragraph.
An attempt to commit any of the offenses prescribed in any of the four preceding Paragraphs is punishable.
Article 34
Any person who, by means of human trafficking, taking into bondage, or any other means, delivers or receives (the body of) the child or the youth concerned, with intent to cause a child or a youth to engage in sexual intercourse or lewd acts in exchange for consideration, shall be subject to imprisonment for not less than seven (7) years, or in addition thereto, a fine of up to seven million New Taiwan dollars (NT$7,000,000). A person who commits any of the aforesaid offenses by (means of) fraud shall be subject to the same sentence prescribed for any such offense.
Any person who, by means of violence, coercion, intimidation, control, drugs, hypnosis, or any other means against the free will of the child or the youth concerned, commits any of the offenses prescribed in the preceding Paragraph shall be subject to one-half of the sentence for any such offense.
Any person who arranges for, delivers, receives, transports, or harbors a victim mentioned in any of the two preceding Paragraphs, or causes any such victim to be hidden, shall be subject to imprisonment for not less than three (3) years and not more than ten (10) years, or in addition thereto, a fine of up to five million New Taiwan dollars (NT$5,000,000).
Any person who arranges for the delivery, receipt, transport, or harboring of a victim mentioned in the preceding Paragraph shall be subject to the same sentence prescribed in the preceding Paragraph.
An attempt to commit any of the offenses prescribed in any of the four preceding Paragraphs is punishable.
Any person who prepares to commit any of the offenses prescribed in Paragraph 1 or Paragraph 2 of this Article shall be subject to imprisonment for not less than two (2) years.
Article 35
Any person who, by means of recruitment, inducement, offering shelters, arrangement, assistance, exploitation, or any other means, causes a child or a youth to engage in sexual intercourse or lewd acts for others to watch shall be subject to imprisonment of not less than three (3) years and not more than ten (10) years, or in addition thereto, a fine of up to three million New Taiwan dollars (NT$3,000,000).
Any person who, by means of violence, coercion, drugs, fraud, hypnosis, or any other means against the free will of the child or the youth concerned, causes a child or a youth to engage in sexual intercourse or lewd acts for others to watch shall be subject to imprisonment of not less than seven (7) years, or in addition thereto, a fine of up to five million New Taiwan dollars (NT$5,000,000).
Any person who commits any of the offenses prescribed in any of the two preceding Paragraphs with intent to gain profit shall be subject to one-half of the sentence for any such offense.
An attempt to commit any of the offenses prescribed in any of the three preceding Paragraphs is punishable.
Article 36
Any person who films or produces any sexual image or video of a child or a youth, or any drawing, audio recording, or any other item of a child or a youth that is sexually relevant and, by objective standards, arouses sexual desire or shame, shall be subject to imprisonment for not less than one (1) year and not more than seven (7) years, or in addition thereto, a fine of up to one million New Taiwan dollars (NT$1,000,000).
Any person who, by means of recruitment, inducement, offering shelter, arrangement, assistance, or any other means, causes a child or a youth to be filmed, self-film, or produce any sexual image or video, or any drawing, audio recording, or any other item that is sexually relevant and, by objective standards, arouses sexual desire or shame, shall be subject to imprisonment of not less than three (3) years and not more than ten (10) years, or in addition thereto, a fine of up to three million New Taiwan dollars (NT$3,000,000).
Any person who, by means of violence, coercion, drugs, fraud, hypnosis, or any other means against the free will of the child or the youth concerned, causes a child or a youth to be filmed, self-film, or produce any sexual image or video, or any drawing, audio recording, or any other item that is sexually relevant and, by objective standards, arouses sexual desire or shame, shall be subject to imprisonment for not less than seven (7) years, or in addition thereto, a fine of up to five million New Taiwan dollars (NT$5,000,000).
Any person who commits any of the offenses prescribed in any of the three preceding Paragraphs with intent to gain profit shall be subject to one-half of the sentence for any such offense.
An attempt to commit any of the offenses prescribed in any of the four preceding Paragraphs is punishable.
Any attachments, drawings, or items mentioned in any of Paragraphs 1 to 4 of this Article shall be confiscated, regardless of whether any such item belongs to an offender or not.
Any tools or equipment used for the filming or production of any sexual image or video of a child or a youth, or any drawing, audio recording, or any other item of a child or a youth that is sexually relevant and, by objective standards, arouses sexual desire or shame, shall be confiscated, regardless of whether any such tool or equipment belongs to an offender or not. However, the aforesaid confiscation shall not apply if any such tools or equipment belongs to a victim.
Article 37
Any person who commits any of the offenses prescribed in Paragraph 1 or 2 of Article 33, Paragraph 2 of Article 34, Paragraph 2 of Article 35, or Paragraph 3 of Article 36, and knowingly and willfully murders the victim(s), shall be subject to (a penalty of) death or life imprisonment; any person who commits any of the aforesaid offenses and causes serious physical injury to the victim(s) shall be subject to life imprisonment or imprisonment for not less than twelve (12) years.
Any person who commits any of the offenses prescribed in Paragraph 1 or Paragraph 2 of Article 33, Paragraph 2 of Article 34, Paragraph 2 of Article 35, or Paragraph 3 of Article 36, and consequently causes the death of the victim(s), shall be subject to life imprisonment or imprisonment for not less than twelve (12) years; any person who commits any of the aforesaid offenses and causes serious physical injury to the victim(s) shall be subject to imprisonment for not less than twelve (12) years.
Article 38
Any person who, by means of distribution, broadcasting, delivery, public display, or any other means, makes available any sexual image or video of a child or a youth, or any drawing, audio recording, or any other item of a child or a youth that is sexually relevant and, by objective standards, arouses sexual desire or shame, for others to watch or listen, shall be subject to imprisonment of not less than one (1) year and not more than seven (7) years, or in addition thereto, a fine of up to five million New Taiwan dollars (NT$5,000,000).
Any person who possesses any of the items mentioned in the preceding Paragraph with intent to distribute, broadcast, deliver, or publicly display any such item shall be subject to imprisonment of not less than six (6) months and not more than five (5) years, or in addition thereto, a fine of up to three million New Taiwan dollars (NT$3,000,000).
Any person who commits any of the offenses prescribed in any of the two preceding Paragraphs with intent to gain profit shall be subject to one-half of the sentence for any such offense. Any person who sells any sexual image or video of a child or a youth, or any drawing, audio recording, or any other item of a child or a youth that is sexually relevant and, by objective standards, arouses sexual desire or shame, as set forth in any of the two preceding Paragraphs shall be subject to the same sentence prescribed for any such offense.
An attempt to commit any of the offenses prescribed in Paragraph 1 or Paragraph 3 of this Article is punishable.
Any discovered attachments, drawings, or items mentioned in any of Paragraphs 1 to 3 of this Article shall be confiscated, regardless of whether any such item belongs to an offender or not.
Article 39
Any person who, without justification, possesses any sexual image or video of a child or a youth shall be subject to imprisonment of not more than one (1) year or detention, or in lieu thereof or in addition thereto a fine of not less than thirty thousand New Taiwan dollars (NT$30,000) and not more than three hundred thousand New Taiwan dollars (NT$300,000).
Any person who, without justification, possesses any drawings, audio recordings, or any other items of a child or a youth that is sexually relevant and, by objective standards, arouses sexual desire or shame, and is discovered for committing such an offense for the first time, shall be subject to a fine of not less than ten thousand New Taiwan dollars (NT$10,000) and not more than one hundred thousand New Taiwan dollars (NT$100,000), and may also be ordered to take counseling education for a period of not less than two (2) hours and not more than ten (10) hours. Any attachments, drawings, or items shall be confiscated, regardless of whether any such item belongs to the possessor (who possesses any such item) or not.
Any person who, without justification, possesses any drawings, audio recordings, or any other items of a child or a youth that is sexually relevant and, by objective standards, arouses sexual desire or shame, and is discovered for committing such an offense for the second time or the subsequent times, shall be subject to a fine of not less than twenty thousand New Taiwan dollars (NT$20,000) and not more than two hundred thousand New Taiwan dollars (NT$200,000).
Any discovered attachments, drawings, or items mentioned in any of Paragraphs 1 and 3 of this Article shall be confiscated, regardless of whether any such item belongs to an offender or not.
Article 40
Any person who, by means of publicity materials, publications, broadcasting services, television services, telecommunication services, internet sources, or any other means, distributes, transmits, publishes, or posts any messages sufficient to induce, arrange for, suggest, or otherwise cause a child or a youth to be in danger of being subjected to sexual exploitation mentioned in any of Subparagraphs 1 to 3 of Paragraph 1 of Article 2, shall be subject to imprisonment for not more than three (3) years, or in addition thereto, a fine of up to one million New Taiwan dollars (NT$1,000,000).
Any person who commits any of the offenses prescribed in the preceding Paragraph with intent to make profits shall be subject to imprisonment for not more than five (5) years, or in addition thereto, a fine of up to one million New Taiwan dollars (NT$1,000,000).
Article 41
A public servant or an elected public official who commits any of the offenses prescribed in this Act or who covers up any other person who commits any of the offenses prescribed in this Act shall be subject to one-half of the sentence for any such offense.
Article 42
Any person who transports a victim into or out of the Taiwan area with intent to commit any of the offenses prescribed in Articles 32 to 36 or the latter part of Paragraph 1 of Article 37 shall be subject to one-half of the sentence for any such offense in accordance with the respective provision(s).
An attempt to commit any of the offenses prescribed in the preceding Paragraph is punishable.
Article 43
The sentence for a father or a mother who commits any of the offenses prescribed in this Act against his or her child, and makes a confession or voluntarily turns himself or herself in, leading to the discovery of (the commission of) any of the offenses prescribed in Articles 32 to 38, or Paragraph 1 or Paragraph 3 of Article 39, shall be reduced or remitted.
The sentence for a person who commits any of the offenses prescribed in Article 31, and makes a confession or voluntarily turns himself or herself in, leading to the discovery of (the commission of) any of the offenses prescribed in Articles 32 to 38, or Paragraph 1 or Paragraph 3 of Article 39, shall be reduced or remitted.
Article 44
Any person who paid consideration to watch a child or a youth engaging in sexual intercourse or lewd acts shall be subject to imprisonment of not more than one (1) year or detention, or in lieu thereof or in addition thereto a fine of not less than thirty thousand New Taiwan dollars (NT$30,000) and not more than three hundred thousand New Taiwan dollars (NT$300,000).
Article 45
Any person who causes a child or a youth to act as a host or a hostess in a bar or a club, or to engage in any acts associated with any escort companion services, singing companion services, or dancing companion services involving any sexual activity, or any other similar acts, shall be subject to a fine of not less than two hundred thousand New Taiwan dollars (NT$200,000) and not more than two million New Taiwan dollars (NT$2,000,000), and shall also be ordered to correct the said misconduct within a designated period of time. If the aforesaid person fails to correct the said misconduct within the said designated period, the competent authority at the special municipality or city (county) level shall refer the case to the competent regulatory authority carrying out regulatory activities relating to affairs in connection with the relevant industry, which shall issue an order to suspend the operation of the business of the aforesaid person for a period of not less than one (1) month and not more than one (1) year.
Any person who, by means of recruitment, inducement, offering shelters, arrangement, assistance, or any other means, causes a child or a youth to act as a host or a hostess in a bar or a club, or to engage in any acts associated with any escort, singing, or dancing companion services involving sexual activity, or any other similar acts, shall be subject to imprisonment of not more than one (1) year, or in addition thereto a fine of up to three hundred thousand New Taiwan dollars (NT$300,000).
Any person who, by means of violence, coercion, drugs, fraud, hypnosis, or any other means against the free will of the child or the youth concerned, causes a child or a youth to act as a host or a hostess in a bar or a club, or to engage in acts associated with escort companion services, singing companion services, or dancing companion services involving any sexual activity, or any other similar acts, shall be subject to imprisonment of not less than three (3) years and not more than five (5) years, or in addition thereto a fine of up to one million five hundred thousand New Taiwan dollars (NT$1,500,000).
Any person who commits any of the offenses prescribed in any of the two preceding Paragraphs with intent to gain profit shall be subject to one-half of the sentence for any such offense in accordance with the respective provision.
An attempt to commit any of the offenses prescribed in any of the three preceding Paragraphs is punishable.
Article 45-1
Any property or any property interest under the control of an offender who commits any of the offenses prescribed in Articles 32 to 36, Article 38, Article 40, or Article 45 shall be confiscated when evidence sufficiently proves that the said offender obtained any such property or any such property interest from, through, or as a result of the offense(s) committed by the said offender.
Article 46
Any person who breaches the confidentiality obligation(s) prescribed in Paragraph 4 of Article 7 shall be subject to a fine of not less than sixty thousand New Taiwan dollars (NT$60,000) and not more than six hundred thousand New Taiwan dollars (NT$600,000).
Any person who, without justification, violates Paragraph 1 of Article 7 by failing to report or by failing to report within the required period shall be subject to a fine of not less than six thousand New Taiwan dollars (NT$6,000) and not more than sixty thousand New Taiwan dollars (NT$60,000).
Article 47
Any person who engages in any of the following misconducts without justification shall be subject to a fine of not less than sixty thousand New Taiwan dollars (NT$60,000) and not more than six hundred thousand New Taiwan dollars (NT$600,000) imposed by the competent regulatory authority carrying out regulatory activities relating to affairs in connection with the relevant industry and shall also be subject to an order issued by the said competent regulatory authority ordering the said person to correct the said misconduct(s) within a period designated by the said competent regulatory authority; provided that, if the said person fails to correct the said misconduct(s) within the aforesaid period designated by the said competent regulatory authority, the said competent regulatory authority may impose fines on the said person consecutively per violation, and may also order the said person to impose restrictions on access to the information (materials or content) in question:
1.a violation of Paragraph 1 of Article 8 by a failure to proactively restrict the browsing of, or remove, the webpage(s) information (materials or content) in question; or
2.a violation of Paragraph 2 of Article 8 by a failure to retain the information (materials or content) in question for one hundred eighty (180) days or by a failure to provide the information (materials or content) in question to judicial authorities or police agencies for investigations.
Article 48
Any broadcaster or any television company in violation of the reporting prohibition under Paragraph 1 of Article 14 shall be subject to a fine of not less than sixty thousand New Taiwan dollars (NT$60,000) and not more than six hundred thousand New Taiwan dollars (NT$600,000) imposed by the competent regulatory authority carrying out regulatory activities relating to affairs in connection with telecommunications and broadcasting services, and shall also be subject to an order issued by the said competent regulatory authority ordering the said broadcaster or the said television company to correct the said misconduct(s) within a period designated by the said competent regulatory authority; provided that, if the said broadcaster or the said television company fails to correct the said misconduct(s) within the aforesaid period designated by the said competent regulatory authority, the said competent regulatory authority may impose fines on the said broadcaster or the said television company consecutively per violation.
Any person in charge of any publicity materials, publications, internet sources, or any other types of media, other than those mentioned in the preceding Paragraph, that is in violation of the reporting prohibition or the covering prohibition under Paragraph 1 of Article 14 shall be subject to a fine of not less than sixty thousand New Taiwan dollars (NT$60,000) and not more than six hundred thousand New Taiwan dollars (NT$600,000) imposed by the competent regulatory authority carrying out regulatory activities relating to affairs in connection with the relevant industry, may be subject to an order issued by the said competent regulatory authority confiscating any items mentioned in Paragraph 1 of Article 14, and may be subject to an order issued by the said competent regulatory authority ordering the said entity or the said organization to remove, take down, or adopt any other necessary measures for, the information in question, within a period designated by the said competent regulatory authority; provided that, if the said entity or the said organization fails to comply with the aforesaid order within the aforesaid period designated by the said competent regulatory authority, the said competent regulatory authority may impose fines on the person(s) in charge of the said entity or the said organization consecutively per violation until the said entity or the said organization fully complies with the aforesaid order of the said competent regulatory authority.
Any person who breaches the confidentiality obligation(s) prescribed in Paragraph 2 of Article 14 shall be subject to a fine of not less than sixty thousand New Taiwan dollars (NT$60,000) and not more than six hundred thousand New Taiwan dollars (NT$600,000).
Any person who, without justification, violates Paragraph 4 of Article 14 (which prohibits the reveal or disclosure of the name of or any other personally identifiable information of a victim to the public) shall be subject to a fine of not less than twenty thousand New Taiwan dollars (NT$20,000) and not more than one hundred thousand New Taiwan dollars (NT$100,000).
If there is no person in charge of a particular publicity material, a particular publication, a particular internet source, or any other particular types of media, or if the person in charge (of the said publicity material, the said publication, the said internet source, or the said other types of media) is not in a position to supervise the responsible perpetrator (of the said misconduct(s)), the fine prescribed in Paragraph 2 of this Article shall be imposed on the responsible perpetrator.
Article 49
Any person (who is ordered (required) (by the competent authority at the special municipality or city (county) level) to take parental education and counseling mentioned in Article 29) that refuses to take the said parental education and counseling or refuses to complete the hours required for taking the said parental education and counseling shall be subject to a fine of not less than three thousand New Taiwan dollars (NT$3,000) and not more than fifteen thousand New Taiwan dollars (NT$15,000). The competent authority at the special municipality or city (county) level may impose the aforesaid fines on any of the aforesaid persons consecutively per violation.
Any of the parents or the guardian(s) of a child or a youth, or any other person who actually takes care of a child or a youth, fails to diligently fulfill his or her responsibilities to watch over the said child or the said youth to cooperate, resulting in the refusal of the said child or the said youth to take counseling treatment(s) or to be followed up, as prescribed in Paragraph 1 of Article 23 and Article 30, shall be subject to a fine of not less than one thousand two hundred New Taiwan dollars (NT$1,200) and not more than six thousand New Taiwan dollars (NT$6,000).
Article 50
Any (person responsible for the conduct of any) publicity materials, publications, broadcasting services, television services, internet sources, or any other types of media that distributes, transmits, publishes, or posts, on behalf of any other persons, any messages sufficient to induce, arrange for, suggest, or otherwise cause a child or a youth to be in danger of being subjected to sexual exploitation mentioned in Subparagraphs 1 to 3 of Paragraph 1 of Article 2, shall be subject to a fine of not less than fifty thousand New Taiwan dollars (NT$50,000) and not more than six hundred thousand New Taiwan dollars (NT$600,000) imposed by a competent regulatory authority carrying out regulatory activities relating to affairs in connection with the relevant industry.
A competent regulatory authority carrying out regulatory activities relating to affairs in connection with the relevant industry shall issue a press release and disclose the medium (or media) in violation of the preceding Paragraph.
When an internet source or any other types of media mentioned in Paragraph 1 of this Article has exercised due diligence to prevent any person from distributing, transmitting, publishing, or posting messages that may cause a child or a youth to be in danger of being subjected to sexual exploitation mentioned in Subparagraphs 1 to 3 of Paragraph 1 of Article 2, a competent regulatory authority carrying out regulatory activities relating to affairs in connection with the relevant industry may, after obtaining a deliberated consensus (on reducing or remitting the fine to be imposed on the said internet source or the said medium) reached by the child and youth welfare organizations, scholars, and experts invited to attend the meeting(s) (convened by the said competent regulatory authority) on whether (or not) to reduce or remit the fine to be imposed on the said internet source or the said medium, reduce or remit the fine to be imposed on the said internet source or the said medium.
Article 51
The competent authority at the special municipality or city (county) level shall provide an offender who is convicted guilty, by a final judgment, of or who is placed on deferred prosecution for (committing) any of the offenses prescribed in Paragraph 2 of Article 31, Paragraph 1 of Article 36, Paragraph 1 of Article 38, Paragraph 1 or Paragraph 3 of Article 39, or Article 44, with counseling education for a period of not less than four (4) hours and not more than fifty (50) hours.
The competent authority at the special municipality or city (county) level may coordinate the provision of the aforesaid counseling education to an offender with the responsible correctional facility (or facilities) during the period when the said offender is serving his sentence. Correctional facilities shall offer venues and necessary assistance.
An offender (who is ordered to take the counseling education mentioned in Paragraph 1 of this Article or Paragraph 2 of Article 39) that, without justification, refuses to take the counseling education mentioned in Paragraph 1 of this Article or Paragraph 2 of Article 39, or refuses to complete the hours required for taking the said counseling education, shall be subject to a fine of not less than six thousand New Taiwan dollars (NT$6,000) and not more than thirty thousand New Taiwan dollars (NT$30,000). The competent authority at the special municipality or city (county) level may impose the aforesaid fine on an aforesaid offender consecutively per violation.
Article 52
If the sentence for an offense prescribed in (a provision set forth in) any other law is more severe than the sentence for the same offense prescribed in (a provision set forth in) this Act, (any such provision set forth in) any such other law shall prevail.
The (provisions of this) Act shall apply mutatis mutandis to the investigations and trials conducted by a military tribunal in regard to an offense committed by a member of the armed forces in active service.
Article 52-1
A national of the Republic of China who commits any of the offenses prescribed in this Act outside the territory of the Republic of China shall be punished in accordance with this Act, regardless of whether the conduct of the said national is punishable under the laws of the jurisdiction where the said conduct took place.
Chapter V Supplementary Provisions
Article 53
The regulations governing the subjects, carrying out, subject matters, and other compliance matters of the counseling education mentioned in Paragraph 1 of Article 39 and Paragraph 1 of Article 51 of this Act shall be jointly formulated by the competent central authority and the competent authority carrying out regulatory activities relating to legal affairs and law enforcement through the consultation meeting(s) convened by the said competent central authority.
Article 53-1
The pre-amended Article 39 or the pre-amended Article 44 of this Act (before the amendment to this Act on January 10, 2023) shall apply to the conduct of a person who, without justification, possessed any sexual image or video of a child or a youth, or who paid consideration to watch a child or a youth engaging in sexual intercourse or lewd acts, either of the foregoing conduct was conducted before the amended Articles 39 and 44 of this Act came into effect, but is punishable after the amended Articles 39 and 44 of this Act came into effect.
Article 54
The enforcement rules of this Act shall be formulated by the competent central authority.
Article 55
The effective date of this Act shall be determined by the Executive Yuan.
Articles of this Act amended on January 10, 2023, shall become effective on the date of promulgation (of the said amendment to this Act), except for Article 22, for which the effective date shall be determined by the Executive Yuan.