Today, in this episode of “Taiwan in the international news”

今天，在這一集《台灣國際新聞中》中

I want to talk about an article that was published in a Belgian newspaper called “Het Laatste Nieuws” on the 29th of May.

我想談談5月29日在比利時報紙《Het Laatste Nieuws》上發表的文章。

I was surprised by this article, because I had no idea that a law like that existed in Taiwan.

我對這篇文章感到驚訝，因為我不知道台灣曾經存在那樣的法律。

The title of the article (that I am going to translate from Dutch) is:

文章的標題（我從荷蘭語翻譯）是：

“Taiwan abolishes law that sentences people for adultery”.

“台灣廢除了判處通姦罪的法律”。

Apparently, in Taiwan, if you are a married couple and one of the two people cheats,

顯然，在台灣，如果您是一對已婚夫婦，並且配偶之一出軌，

They can be prosecuted in the court of law and face up to one year in prison!!

他們會在法院被起訴，並面臨最高一年的徒刑！！

I had no idea… We don't have a law like that in Belgium.

我不清楚…我們在比利時沒有這樣的法律。

Let's go ahead and read the article.

讓我們繼續閱讀文章。

Taiwan abolishes law criminalizing adultery

台灣廢除將通姦定為犯罪的法律

The highest court of justice in Taiwan has decided to abolish a law that could convict a person who cheats in a marriage to a prison sentence.

台灣最高法院已決定廢除一條法律，該法律可對因婚姻出軌的人判入獄定罪。

Hsu Tzong-li, president of the judicial branch of the Taiwanese government has said in a statement that the 85-year-old law has been abolished

台灣司法院長許宗力在一份聲明中說，這項已有85年歷史的法律已被廢除。

because it was a serious “violation of a person's sexual autonomy” and a “serious invasion of personal privacy”.

因為這是嚴重“侵犯人的性自主權”和“嚴重侵犯個人隱私”。

Previous to this decision, the ministry of Justice has conducted a research finding that 70% of the population was against the abolishment of this law.

在做出這項決定之前，法務部進行了一項研究，發現70％的人反對廢除該法律。

This number surprises me actually.

這個數字事實上讓我感到驚訝。

This means that many people in Taiwan are still in favour of this law and think it's good that a person who cheats ends up in prison potentially.

這意味著台灣許多人仍然贊成這項法律，認為出軌的人最終入獄可能是件好事。

Kuan Hsiao-wei, an assistant to a professor at the University of Taipei has called this decision of the court a milestone in the history of sexual human rights in Taiwan.

台北大學助理教授官曉薇稱，大法官的這一決定是台灣性權史上的一個里程碑。

It was stated that women had a 20% higher chance of getting convicted of the charge,

據指出，女性被定罪的機率高出20％，

even though men were committing the cheating act more often.

即使男人更經常出軌。

Activists stated that the law could also pressure victims of sexual assault not to file charges,

支持者表示，該法律還可能向性侵犯的受害者施加壓力，使其不能提起訴訟，

because the adultery charges were far more easy to prove in court than sexual assault.

因為通姦罪在法庭上比性侵犯更容易被證明。

I don't know what you think about this, but in my personal opinion it can only be positive that this law doesn't exist anymore.

我不知道您對此有何看法，但以我個人的觀點，這條法律不再存在一定是正面的。

If you consider those women who are fearing to report rape and sexual assault out of fear that they if they fail to prove the rape,

如果您考慮那些害怕舉報強暴和性侵犯的婦女，因為擔心她們無法證明被強暴，

they might be the ones who get convicted for cheating. That is scary

她們可能因通姦而被定罪。這太恐怖了

and I can understand that many women are not prepared to take that risk so they just keep quiet.

我可以理解，許多女性不想冒險承擔這些風險，因此只能保持沉默。

I think that is a big problem.

我認為這是一個很大的問題。

Don't get me wrong: here in Belgium we don't have this law, but it is completely socially unacceptable to cheat.

別誤會我的意思：在比利時，這裡沒有這項法律，但是通姦在社會上是不可接受的。

Of course

當然如此

But we don't have the government taking care of that.

但是我們沒有政府來插手。

It is something between those 2 people. It is their relationship and if something like that happens,

那是兩個人之間的事。這是他們的關係，如果發生這種情況，

If one person cheats, the other one is free to leave.

如果一個人出果，另一個人可以自由地離開。

Maybe in some cases… For example: if one person cheats and they want a divorce

也許在某些情況下…例如：如果一個人出軌並且想要離婚

And then they are fighting for the children's custody, maybe in that case a judge can use this cheating argument against the person

如果他們為孩子的監護權而戰，那麼在那種情況下，律師可以利用這婚外情對那個人提起訴訟

To say to the judge: “this person is not responsible, is not serious enough to take care of the children. Look at what they did.”

對法官說：“這個人不負責任而且沒有真心，無法照顧孩子。看看這些人做了什麼。”

It can be used against them, but it can never directly lead to a sentence when you cheat on your partner.

外遇可以用來針對他們，但是婚姻出軌永遠不會直接影響判決。

It is time to read some of your comments on last week's video about the Taiwanese Human Rights Museum getting a German award.

現在是時候來閱讀您對上週有關台灣人權博物館獲得德國大獎影片的留言。

Willy Nieh says: “Hi, glad to see you again here, just like an old friend of mine.

Willy Nieh 說：“嗨，很高興再次見到妳，就像我的老朋友一樣。

By the way, I'm not from Taiwan, but as you I care about that little island, stinky tofu is pretty good too, have a good time”

對了，我不是台灣人，但是像妳一樣關心那個小島，臭豆腐也很不錯，祝妳玩得開心”

Thank you Willy, I really like Taiwan too!

謝謝 Willy，我也非常喜歡台灣！

I don't know why this small, little island at the other side of the planet caught my heart like that.

我不知道為什麼在地球另一端的這個小島這麼吸引我的心。

It is always nice to see other foreigners who have such a love for Taiwan too.

很高興看到其他外國人也如此熱愛台灣。

Tracy W writes: “I watch videos every morning and practice my listening. What a great video and I enjoy your smile!”

Tracy W 寫說：“我每天早上看影片並練習聽力。多麼棒的影片，我喜歡妳的微笑！”

“I really hope to see you soon in Taiwan.”

“我真的希望很快能在台灣見到妳。”

Thank you Tracy! I'm always so happy to hear that people practice English with my videos.

謝謝 Tracy！我總是很高興聽到大家用我的影片練習英語。

I'm trying my best to pronounce well for you.

為了您我竭盡全力做好發音。

Wen Tou Chen wrote: “Stinky tofu :D I heard about the museum before but haven't been there yet.”

Wen Tou Chen 寫說：“臭豆腐 :D 以前聽說過那個博物館，但還沒去過那裡。”

“This video makes me feel that I should go for a sight.”

“這部影片讓我覺得我應該去看看。”

Yes, you are right! You should go. And I should go too!

是的，您是對的！您該去一趟。我也應該去！

I had the same feeling. When I was doing research about that museum, I was surprised that I had never heard about it before

我曾有過類似的感覺。當我研究那個博物館時，我很驚訝我之前從未聽說過它

And I thought: waw, that is something to add on my list next time I go to Taiwan.

我那時想：哇，我下次去台灣時要把這件事放進清單。

That was it for today's video. I hope you found it as interesting as I did.

今天的影片就是這樣。我希望您能像我一樣覺得有趣。

I am curious to hear about your opinion on this matter.

我很好其您對此事的看法。

Let me know in the comments down below if you think it is a good thing (or not) that this law will be abolished.

如果您認為廢除該法律是一件好事（或不是），請在下面的留言中告訴我。

If you stayed until the end, you are one of the elite people

如果您一直待到最後，您就是我們的精英

Let's use the password:

讓我們使用通關密語：

Owl

貓頭鷹

Because there is one on my shirt. Can you see it?

因為我的襯衫上有一隻。您能看見牠嗎？

If you write “owl” in the comments down below, I know you watched until the end

如果您在下面的留言中寫下“貓頭鷹”，我就知道您一直看到最後

Thank you so much! Don't forget to “like” and “subscribe”

非常感謝！不要忘記“按讚”和“訂閱”

I hope to see you soon in the next video. Bye bye ~

希望在下一個影片中很快再見。Bye bye ~