Domestic violence cases on the riseBy Wang Hsiang-cheng 王翔正Taiwan’s population declined for the 26th consecutive month in February, as deaths continued to outnumber births, resulting in negative population growth. However, amid this birthrate crisis, domestic violence is on the rise, with 136,781 cases reported last year, up 9,419, or 7.4 percent, from 2024, National Police Agency statistics showed. The number of domestic violence reports and those referred for criminal prosecution both posted five-year highs. Beyond these official statistics, the number of unreported domestic violence cases also remains high. For domestic abuse involving romantic partners, Article 7 of the Domestic Violence Prevention Act (家庭暴力防治法) was amended in 2023 to include protections for same-sex couples and those in non-cohabiting relationships.
