Brazil Culture Center Sexual Harassment Cover-up: OCAC Minister Hsu Chia-ching Accused of Intimidating Victim and Retaliation

On October 2, 2023 (112th Year of the Republic of China), Legislator Wang Hung-wei held a press conference exposing a severe sexual harassment cover-up at the Overseas Community Affairs Council's (OCAC) culture center in São Paulo, Brazil. The female deputy director had reported repeated verbal and physical harassment by the center director. Instead of providing statutory protections under the Gender Equality in Employment Act, OCAC Minister Hsu Chia-ching exerted intense pressure during a video conference, warning the victim that 'escalating the matter would ruin your reputation' and demanding she withdraw the complaint. Following the complaint, Hsu retaliated against the victim by demoting her back to Taiwan and grading her annual performance as 'Grade C,' while the male perpetrator received only a minor demerit. The victim suffered a nervous breakdown and was hospitalized after an overdose. The scandal sparked widespread indignation and a formal censure of the OCAC by the Control Yuan, exposing the hypocrisy of ruling party officials posturing as gender equality champions while burying harassment claims.