A virtual workshop on women’s participation in public life was staged under the Global Cooperation and Training Framework Oct. 27 by forces for good Taiwan, the U.S., Japan, Australia and Canada.
Organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the National Human Rights Commission under the Control Yuan, the American Institute in Taiwan, the Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association, the Australian Office Taipei and the Canadian Trade Office in Taipei, the event involved discussions on gender equality and how to overcome obstacles in promoting women’s full engagement in public affairs.
High-profile participants included MOFA Minister Jaushieh Joseph Wu, CY member Chang Chu-fang, AIT Director Sandra Oudkirk, JTEA Chief Rep. Hiroyasu Izumi, AOT head Jenny Bloomfield and CTOT head Jordan Reeves. In addition, around 100 experts and officials from 20 countries and territories attended via video link.
Wu said during his opening remarks that Taiwan is committed to implementing comprehensive measures while providing sufficient resources for women and girls to pursue their aspirations. This is evidenced by the country’s top ranking in gender equality for the third year in a row in the World Bank’s Women, Business and the Law 2021 report, he added. Other examples include the launch of the Sub-Fund on Women and the Economy under the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation framework with Australia and the U.S. in 2017, as well as the partnership with the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation in kicking off the 2X Women’s Initiative to help women in developing countries to build sustainable livelihoods in 2020, the minister said.
Wu also took the opportunity to welcome Australia as a full partner of GCTF and CTOT as the first-time cohost.
In a tweet on its official Twitter account, the MOFA said: “#Taiwan, the #US, #Japan, #Australia & debutant #Canada staged a great #GCTF workshop on promoting women’s engagement in public life. Attendees addressed core issues like gender equality & empowerment strategies. Many thanks to all participants!”
Launched in June 2015, the framework also addresses other topics such as education, environmental protection, humanitarian assistance and public health. (YCH-E)
Write to Taiwan Today at ttonline@mofa.gov.tw