Taiwan is committed to deepening progress toward gender equality through fostering an environment free of discrimination and prejudice and rich with opportunities, Vice President Chen Chien-jen said March 8.
The government has enacted a raft of policies at the central and local levels to safeguard women’s rights and strengthen engagement in all aspects of the country’s political, economic and social development, Chen said. To enhance the effectiveness of these measures, three national reports on the implementation of the U.N. Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) were compiled in 2009, 2013 and 2017, respectively, he added.
Chen made the remarks at an event organized by the Ministry of Health and Welfare in Taipei City to mark International Women’s Day. In line with the U.N. Women’s initiative He for She, the activity featured a series of thought-provoking interactive games and a short film screening aimed at raising awareness among both genders of the importance of attaining parity.
According to the vice president, while Taiwan’s youth has embraced the universal value of gender equality, implicit stereotypes remain. It is important to squarely face these biases so that further progress can be realized, he said.
Chen praised central and local agencies for efforts in empowering women, adding that the government will continue to roll out programs to achieve full economic and social participation.
Standout measures in this regard include a Ministry of Labor policy enacted in 2016 requiring companies with over 100 employees to provide child care facilities. As a result of this initiative, the proportion of firms offering such services reached 63.4 percent last year, according to the MOL.
First celebrated by the U.N. in 1975, IWD is an opportunity to recognize women for their achievements without regard to cultural, ethnic, linguistic, national or political divisions. It is also an opportunity to build momentum for reaching gender-related targets as set out in the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals. (CPY-E)
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