對質詰問權之保障—以性侵害案件作為探討核心

Abstract

近年來，MeToo運動自美國延燒至我國，政治圈與演藝圈接連爆發風波，新聞媒體與社會輿論大多傾向支持被害人，加上2016年司法改革國是會議亦以強化被害人保護制度為方向進行改革，使性侵害案件之訴訟制度天秤逐漸朝被害人傾斜。性侵害案件之特殊性，導致被告往往面臨極大之辯護困難，以致於無從提出有力主張，倘若訴訟制度過於傾斜，導致被告權利無法充分獲得保障，將使現行刑事訴訟制度淪為片面正義。 自1999年我國引進美國法上之傳聞法則以來，其適用自始即產生爭議，立法後之適用亦爭議不休，經過20餘年仍未充分解決。有論者引進歐洲人權法院之質問法則，希望透過更具彈性之制度來解決傳聞法則之問題，質問法則之運用於實務上雖有見其成長，然而落實程度仍有不足。針對性侵害案件部分，由於司法院釋字第789號未宣告性侵害犯罪防治法違憲，以致於2023年性侵害犯罪防治法修法仍然延續傳聞法則觀點。有鑑於此，本論文提出該法得改善之處，並借鑑比較法提出立法芻議，認為在性侵害案件仍有最低程度之要求，建議我國未來修法應建立一套較為細緻且明確之操作流程，以三階段模式進行操作，並輔以鑑定人協助，以解決被告權利保障與被害人保護間之失衡問題。 此外，現行性侵害案件中，對於兒童以及身心障礙者之保障，設有專業人士之輔助，其主要功能在於輔助偵查機關、法院與性侵害被害人間進行溝通，作為雙方之橋樑。然而本論文研究發現，專業人士在角色定位、資格取得、後續訓練以及其職權皆有改善空間。因此，未來應進一步檢討專業人士之相關制度，確保專業人士能在有效發揮其職能下，卻又不搶主角風采，以提升訴訟程序之公平與公正。

In recent years, the MeToo movement has spread from the United States to Taiwan, sparking a series of controversies in the political and entertainment spheres. News media and public opinion have generally leaned toward supporting the victims. In addition, the 2016 National Conference on Judicial Reform also undertook reforms aimed at strengthening the victim protection system. As a result, the balance of the litigation system in sexual assault cases has gradually tilted in favor of the victims. Due to the particular nature of sexual assault cases, defendants often face significant difficulties in mounting an effective defense, leaving them unable to present powerful arguments. If the litigation system becomes overly tilted, to the extent that the defendant’s rights cannot be fully protected, the current criminal procedure will degenerate into one-sided justice. Since Taiwan introduced the hearsay rule from U.S. law in 1999, its application has been controversial from the outset. Even after legislation, disputes over its application have remained unresolved. More than two decades later, the issue has yet to be fully settled. Some scholars have introduced the confrontation rule from the European Court of Human Rights, hoping that a more flexible system could address the problems associated with the hearsay rule. While the application of the confrontation rule has shown growth in practice, its implementation remains insufficient. With regard to sexual assault cases, because Judicial Yuan Interpretation No. 789 did not declare the Sexual Assault Crime Prevention Act unconstitutional, the 2023 amendment to the Act continues to follow the perspective of the hearsay rule. In light of this, this thesis proposes improvements to the current law and, by drawing on comparative legal systems, offers legislative suggestions. It argues that even in sexual assault cases, there should still be a minimum standard of protection. It recommends that future legislative reforms in Taiwan establish a more detailed and clear procedural framework, to be implemented in a three-stage model, supported by expert evaluators, to address the imbalance between the protection of the defendant’s rights and the victim’s protection. Moreover, under the current system for handling sexual assault cases, specific protections are provided for children and individuals with physical or mental disabilities through the assistance of professionals. Their main function is to facilitate communication between investigative authorities, courts, and sexual assault victims, serving as a bridge between the two parties. However, finding that there is room for improvement regarding the role positioning, qualification requirements, subsequent training, and authority of these professionals. Therefore, the relevant systems governing these professionals should be further reviewed to ensure that they can effectively perform their functions without overshadowing the central roles of the parties involved, thereby enhancing the fairness and impartiality of litigation procedures.