TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Legislative Vice President Johnny Chiang (江啟臣) said Friday that Taiwan will strengthen gender equality legislation while meeting with members of a Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) review committee.
Chiang welcomed the committee’s first visit to the Legislative Yuan and hosted a luncheon with officials from the Cabinet’s Gender Equality Committee, per CNA. He said Taiwan has promoted gender equality through concrete legislative actions and incorporated CEDAW into domestic law more than a decade ago.
Chiang said the Legislative Yuan will improve equality-related legislation and hopes to gain international experience through exchanges with experts. He cited an amendment to the Local Government Act, which he said protects political participation rights for people of all genders.
CEDAW review committee Chair Esther Eghobamien-Mshelia praised Taiwan’s independent review mechanism, describing it as a model for other countries. She also highlighted that female legislators account for 42.5% of the legislature, saying Taiwan is moving toward CEDAW’s goal of equal representation.
Legislator Tsai Chun-chou (蔡春綢) said she has long worked to promote gender equality, particularly regarding the rights of female athletes. Legislator Hsu Yu-chen (許宇甄) said she hopes to maintain exchanges with the committee to advance human rights protections.
