Press Release | Civil Alliance for the Protection of Crime Victims’ Rights Visits Association for Victims Support, Raising Five Major Issues and Urging Swift Improvements

On January 20, this year (2025), the Civil Alliance for the Protection of Crime Victims’ Rights held a press conference releasing a 15-page anniversary evaluation report, putting forward 10 major demands and 20 specific recommendations. To monitor the implementation of the new crime victims protection system, the Alliance's convener, Lin Yung-sung, and members visited the Association for Victims Support on April 18. The meeting was attended by the Association's chairperson, chief executive officer, deputy chief executive officer, and division heads.

Building upon the perspectives of the evaluation report, the Alliance raised five major issues during the visit:

1. More than one year has passed since the implementation of the new Act, yet the "Operational Guidelines for Implementing Protection Procedures" and the "Protection Work Guidance Manual"—which are crucial for guiding frontline staff in their services—have still not been revised. Should this process be expedited? Will public forums and consultation meetings be held during the revision process to gather opinions from all sectors?
2. Does the Association complete its first contact with victims within 24 hours of learning about a case? Since performance indicators reflecting this operational status are currently lacking, should they be included?
3. Are professional performance evaluations conducted before and after organizing large-scale or recreational events? Do the expenditures for related events held since the implementation of the new Act match their effectiveness?
4. When local chapters accept applications for legal assistance from victims, eligibility is not restricted to those whose applications have been rejected by the Legal Aid Foundation. However, some citizens still report that the actual situation differs. How can implementation be improved?
5. Does the Association have an unobstructed channel for employee feedback (such as an anonymous operational suggestion box) to gather staff members' genuine opinions on operations?
   

Chairperson Chang Tou-hui first expressed gratitude to the civil society version for its care and encouragement regarding the crime victim protection system. In response to the civil society evaluation report, the Association will continue to implement education and training for staff and volunteers to build a team with professional capabilities and ethos, while continuously strengthening horizontal communication, public-private partnerships, and network cooperation to deepen the substance of its services.

Chairperson Chang Tou-hui pointed out that although the staffing quotas for the Association and its local chapters have increased, the actual staffing rate remains suboptimal. In response, the Association has re-evaluated and adjusted the compensation and benefits for full-time personnel, hoping to swiftly fill the staffing gaps. As for the revision of the "Operational Guidelines" and the "Guidance Manual," the work will be carried out expeditiously.

In this regard, the Alliance expects the Association to comprehensively review administrative workflows, simplify unnecessary operational procedures, and foster a fresh atmosphere in organizational culture. At the same time, the Alliance anticipates that in the new working year, the Association will genuinely improve and respond to the various issues and expectations raised during the Alliance's visit and in the evaluation report, thereby enhancing the protection of crime victims' rights.