ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses some of the emerging social risks related to family structure within the context of family policies in Taiwan. It examines the recent demographic transitions in Taiwan, trends in marriage and divorce, the growth in unconventional families, domestic violence and challenging behaviour and the development of family policies. The Civil Protection Order system was also enforced to protect people who experience domestic violence. Taiwan has experienced significant changes in family structures, relationships, and social and economic conditions over the last half century. The chapter illustrates the concerns have been raised and policies adopted to tackle the negative effects of these trends. The family remains the central unit in Taiwan, providing support across generations. The threats to the family, such as the decline in marriages and the increase in domestic violence, have seriously challenged this traditional view. The Taiwanese government has long advocated the need for a family-centred strategy for social welfare.
