A review of Taiwan's Third National Report on its Implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) by a panel of international experts has been livestreamed at
https://www.gec.ey.gov.tw/Video_Content.aspx?n=4058C80F2AF663E7&s=B238084FAE93A93C. To ensure as many people as possible could view the stream, simultaneous interpretation and sign language services were also provided during the broadcast.
The international review was conducted from July 16 to 20, 2018, at the Howard Civil Service International House in Taipei. Comprising five internationally renowned experts from Brazil, Finland, Italy, Slovenia, and South Korea who have served on the UN CEDAW Committee for many years, the panel engaged in extensive and in-depth discussions with government officials and private actors to review the situation regarding equal rights and the elimination of gender-based discrimination in Taiwan, and the extent to which CEDAW has been put into practice.
Presiding over the opening ceremony of the review, Vice President Chen Chien-jen said in his opening remarks that Taiwan is aiming to become a benchmark for gender equality in Asia. Representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) and other relevant government departments also participated in the ceremony, as well as those from local embassies and missions, including the United Kingdom, Canada, and the EU. The Taiwanese government was represented on the review panel by Minister without Portfolio Lo Ping-cheng. Minister Lo and the panel's international experts steered the review to a satisfactory conclusion, citing numerous fruitful outcomes.
CEDAW was ratified by the Legislative Yuan in 2007, and put into effect in January 2012 with the CEDAW Enforcement Act being introduced and incorporated into domestic law. The publication of National Reports in 2009 and 2013 prior to the third report demonstrates the progress Taiwan has already made in promoting and safeguarding women's rights. It is hoped that the third review will advance the international community's understanding of Taiwan's efforts and progress in terms of the development of women's rights.
To support the implementation of CEDAW in Taiwan, MOFA put up posters bearing the slogan “gender is not an obstacle” while taking part in the 2018 Taipei Dragon Boat Festival, demonstrating its determination to promote gender equality. Eight overseas teams took part in the races, which ran from June 16 to 18.
For further information about gender equality in Taiwan, please visit the Gender Equality Committee's website at https://www.gec.ey.gov.tw/en/.