2025-10-13
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Deputy Director Lin Zi-Rui of the Social Affairs Bureau noted that Mayor Lu Shiow-Yen, as the only female mayor among Taiwan’s six municipalities, places great emphasis on women’s rights and gender equality, while promoting women’s full participation across all sectors. The city government has integrated the principles of gender equality into daily life through diverse initiatives, including transportation subsidies for pregnant women and empowerment programs for women at local markets. At the same time, it actively implements the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 5 (SDG 5), ensuring that the principle of “Leave No One Behind” is fully realized.
The Social Affairs Bureau noted that the 8th Taichung Gender Equality Cities Forum aligns with the priority theme of the 70th session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW 70) next year, focusing on eliminating discrimination and promoting inclusive and equitable laws and policies. The city government will also participate in parallel meetings alongside CSW 70 in New York next March to share Taichung’s achievements in gender equality policies and enhance the city’s international visibility.
The Social Affairs Bureau explained that this year’s forum featured one keynote speech and two panel discussions. The keynote was delivered by Dr. Heisoo Shin, Chair of the Board at the Korea Center for UN Human Rights Policy, together with Ye De-Lan, researcher and adjunct professor at National Taiwan University, exploring gender justice in the context of digital transformation from both international and local perspectives. The first panel, moderated by Professor Xu Ya-Hui of National Chi Nan University, invited Ms. Yuki Kusano, Project Manager at Japan’s Fish Family Foundation, and Qin Ji-Fang, Lecturer at National Defense University, to discuss the role of digital tools in advancing gender equality policies. The forum concluded with a panel led by Associate Professor Zhang Jing-Fen of National Taipei University, joined by Yan Shi-Yi, Team Leader at the Foundation for Women’s Rights Promotion and Development, and Shi Bing-Hui, Director of the Soroptimist International of Taiwan Region, sharing insights on enhancing legal literacy through digital communities.
The Social Affairs Bureau noted that the city government will continue to advance diverse policies, working hand in hand with citizens to build a gender-friendly and sustainably developed city. For more information on the forum’s outcomes and gender equality initiatives, please visit the Taichung City Government’s Gender Equality Website (https://ge.taichung.gov.tw/).
Attending today’s event were City Councilor Liu Shih-Chou, along with representatives from City Councilor Huang Shou-Da, the Gender Equality Committee of the Executive Yuan, and the city government’s Water Resources Bureau, Cultural Affairs Bureau, Legal Affairs Bureau, Indigenous Peoples Commission, Sports Bureau, Tourism and Travel Bureau, Information Bureau, and Digital Affairs Bureau.
