The EU-Taiwan LGBTI Human Rights Conference took place Oct. 27-28 in Taipei City, reflecting the commitment of both sides to promoting and protecting equal rights for all.
Jointly organized by the Cabinet-level Gender Equality Committee, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Economic Trade Office, Taiwan Tongzhi (LGBTQ+) Hotline Association and American Institute in Taiwan, the two-day event was attended by 500 experts, officials and representatives from 21 countries and territories, including AIT Director Sandra Oudkirk and EETO Deputy Head Guillermo Martinez.
In his opening remarks, Minister without Portfolio and Gender Equality Committee Executive Secretary Lo Ping-cheng said a survey conducted in May on attitudes toward gender equality revealed public acceptance of same-sex marriage increased from 37.4 percent in 2018 to over 60 percent in 2022 after the country legalized same-sex marriage in 2019.
As of the end of September, a total of 8,929 same-sex marriages were registered in Taiwan, Lo said, adding that addressing LGBTI human rights issues requires social inclusion and democratic resilience.
According to Lo, the first edition of the conference in 2019 attracted 280 participants from 31 countries in Asia and Europe. It is hoped that the event will serve as an experience-sharing platform and help policymakers advance gender equality, he said.
Representing the EU, Martinez said human rights and LGBTI rights are core values enshrined in EU foreign policy. A multipronged, cooperative approach is required in tackling LGBTI discrimination, he added. (DL-E)
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