Joint Statement｜Do Not Share Sexual Assault Videos; Taipei Main Station Must Strengthen Personal Safety Monitoring Systems and Promote Friendly Bystander Intervention

Regarding media reports about a woman being publicly assaulted at Taipei Main Station, the footage has sparked public shock, with citizens sharing the video and even leaving comments asking for unedited versions. Since the woman was dragged and sexually assaulted in broad daylight at Taipei Main Station while surrounded by onlookers, it is evident that the personal safety environment in this public space has flashed red. The Taipei Women's Rescue Foundation (TWRF) and the Judicial Reform Foundation (JRF) express their grave concern over this incident and propose the following demands:

1. Taiwan Railways Corporation and the Taipei City Government Should Review Public Spaces Such as Taipei Main Station to Strengthen Personal Safety Monitoring and Rescue Mechanisms in Order to Protect Public Safety

This incident occurred on the afternoon before a long weekend in the station's main concourse, which is equipped with numerous surveillance cameras. The perpetrator dragged the victim and sexually assaulted her in public, and police only arrived to handle the situation after a foreign national made a report. This clearly shows that safety within the station has flashed red, and the monitoring mechanisms meant to safeguard public safety have failed. TWRF and JRF strongly call upon Taiwan Railways Corporation and the Taipei City Government to review the safety of public spaces such as Taipei Main Station—such as evaluating the presence of emergency help buttons for bystanders and clear signage for rapid reporting pathways—and to strengthen personal safety monitoring and rescue mechanisms to protect the public.

2. Media Outlets and Political Talk Shows Should Refrain from Using the Video in Their Reports to Prevent Further Dissemination, Copycat Crimes, and Secondary Trauma to the Victim

In this incident, certain media outlets published surveillance footage. Even though it was blurred, it still risks re-traumatizing the victim. Moreover, after viewing these reports, citizens may share and forward the content, causing the video to spread continuously, exacerbating secondary trauma for the victim and triggering copycat effects. News reporting should aim to uncover facts and urge systemic improvement rather than prioritizing eyeball-grabbing content. TWRF and JRF urge the media and political talk shows not to use the video when reporting on this incident, preventing further dissemination, copycat behavior, and secondary trauma to the victim.

3. Citizens and Platform Operators Must Not Share the Video, Minimizing Victim-Blaming and Aggravated Trauma

In cases of sexual assault, severe condemnation must be directed at the perpetrator, never the victim. TWRF observed that after the incident came to light, the comment sections of news reports and social media platforms still featured victim-blaming and shaming, with some even openly demanding unedited videos. Such remarks not only constitute secondary harm to the victim but also serve to foster a culture of gender-based violence. TWRF and JRF urge the public not to share the video and to refrain from blaming the victim, thereby reducing aggravated trauma. At the same time, we call upon platform operators to actively review and remove related comments, jointly boycotting such predatory rhetoric.

4. Strengthen Promotional Education and Encourage Friendly Bystander Intervention to Promptly Prevent Sexual Violence Incidents or Mitigate Their Severity

The incident took place in a station concourse before a long weekend with many people present, yet no immediate bystander intervention was seen. This highlights society's apathy and misunderstandings regarding sexual violence. TWRF and JRF suggest that the government should broadly promote and educate the public on the importance of friendly bystander intervention, noting that acts of civic courage do not equate to putting oneself in extreme danger. Bystanders can employ safe intervention strategies such as timely shouting, notifying personnel on-site, or directly calling the police. The National Police Agency under the Ministry of the Interior also provides a "Video Emergency Reporting App." These actions can protect victims, stop perpetrators, or reduce the severity of the incident.

Sexual violence is not an isolated individual matter; it is a societal issue rooted in social structures and represents a collective social responsibility. When a sexual assault occurs in a familiar public space, it demonstrates that our social safety mechanism has malfunctioned. TWRF and JRF urge everyone to take this incident as a warning, to review and strengthen safety mechanisms in public environments, to promote safety education on friendly bystander intervention, and to reduce victim-blaming among the public. Media outlets and the internet must adhere to self-regulation and avoid sensationalist and stigmatizing language (such as the phrasing used in this case describing the suspect as disguised as a homeless person) that induces public panic and causes secondary trauma to the victim. Only then can we truly prevent tragedies from recurring and afford victims the respect and support they deserve.

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Issuing Organizations

Taipei Women's Rescue Foundation
Judicial Reform Foundation

Media Contact

Elvin Lu, Director of the Legal Policy Department, Judicial Reform Foundation
Telephone: 02-2523-1178#37
Email: elvin@jrf.org.tw