The Ministry of Education held a "human rights wedding" in Taichung City for educators from around the country on Teacher's Day yesterday. Couples working in the education field who recognize the value of human rights education were invited to participate in a marriage ceremony, including writing a short essay about their romance, as well as giving opinions on forming a "human rights family."
Through this ceremony, the ministry hopes to promote the concept of respect and tolerance in people's marriages and family lives. The Council of Labor Affairs has held similar weddings for workers to encourage respect for human rights in their families, lives and workplaces.
But if the ministry wants to uphold human rights, why doesn't it start in school? Holding "weddings" is not the best way to promote human rights. Because of a lack of numbers, the ministry has loosened restrictions on the occupations of participants, allowing couples from all professions to join the event.
Instead of trying hard to find more couples to wed, it would be much better for the ministry and other education agencies to focus on improving the human rights environment in schools.
The Gender Equality Education Law (性別平等教育法) protects the rights of single pregnant students and homosexuals to education, and states that teachers must not treat them differently or hound them out of school. But the reality is different and does not meet the mandate of the law.
There is room for improvement in terms of human rights on campuses. In particular, some educators do not recognize or understand sexual diversity, and continue to use incorrect and discriminatory language, whether on purpose or unintentionally. Also, many schools are extremely conservative when facing issues of homosexuality. Some teachers and faculty members even claim that they have never taught gay students in their schools.
The Taiwan Tongzhi Hotline Association launched a "One Person, One Letter" campaign on the eve of Teacher's Day, calling on homosexuals to write letters to former teachers telling them their stories. The idea is that teachers squarely face the existence of homosexual students and protect their right to an education free of discrimination so that future students can learn in an environment that upholds equality.
The ministry's promotion of respect and tolerance between husbands and wives via "human rights weddings" is not a bad thing, but it still has an unshirkable responsibility to begin such education in school. While promoting virtue in marriage, it should not forget that its primary task is to boost understanding of gender equality among students.
Unfortunately, the ministry plans to stop funding the periodical Gender Equality Education Quarterly. It is confusing that it would spend so much time and energy on holding weddings while disregarding a magazine that promotes understanding of gender equality issues among teachers.
Perhaps the decline in the birth rate has forced government agencies to organize mass nuptials. But what aspect of human rights is the wedding genuinely able to embody? I commend the event, but does such activity seriously address the decline of the birth rate?
Last July, I attended the first same-sex wedding at the Vancouver City Hall after same-sex marriage was legalized in Canada, which many lawmakers also attended to show their support. Vancouver's ceremony for an oppressed sexual minority embodied the spirit of respect and tolerance more than our ministry's weddings. I believe it was much closer to the true meaning of a "human rights wedding."
Cheng Chi-wei is the director of social and volunteer work at the Taiwan Tongzhi Hotline Association.
Translated by Eddy Chang
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