The first women's law reference book, "Women's Six Laws -- A compilation of women's rights-related laws and practices" was released yesterday in the hopes of helping Taiwan's women be better equipped to protect themselves.
The 655-page reference book was published by the Foundation of Equal Rights and Advancement of Women (
The book details all laws enacted or amended over the past ten years that relate specifically to women, including amendments to the Criminal Law, amendments on the Civil Law's domestic relation section, the Sexual Assault Prevention Law, and the Domestic Violence Prevention Law.
Deputy Premier Liu Chao-shiuan (
"The book is a manifestation of ten years of `women make law movement' (
Ten years ago, because of sexual discrimination in an employment case, Yu Mei-Nu (尤美女), a woman lawyer and former board member of the Awakening Foundation, teamed up with other women lawyers on a project to initiate a law to ensure equal employment between men and women.
The project resulted in a draft of the Workplace Gender Equity Bill, legislation that is expected to be passed in the current legislative session.
According to Wang, the heroines of the ten-year "women make law" movement include Tu Hsiu-ray and lawyers Wang Ching-fong (王清峰) of the Women's Rescue Foundation, Yang Fang-wan (楊芳婉) of the Taipei Awakening Association, and Shen Mei-cheng (沈美真).
However, she said justice between the genders in Taiwan has not yet been achieved. "For example, mechanisms related to the Domestic Violence Prevention Law, among others, are still incomplete," Wang said. "Taiwan's gender education has just started, and we have a long way to go .... But this book can be a first and important step."
The Foundation of Equal Rights and Advancement of Women also released a survey of Taiwan women yesterday to coincide with the book's publication. The poll on women's rights and fears showed that over 80 percent of respondents were unaware or unfamiliar with the laws that could protect them.
The poll, conducted by the CTN Poll and Market Research Center, showed two-thirds (65 percent) of 1,070 women did not know if there were laws to ensure their rights.
More than 71 percent of respondents worried about being sexually harassed on public transportation and in public places. Half feared becoming the victim of a sexual assault; 48 percent feared being harassed on campus; and almost 21 percent were worried about confronting domestic violence.
Along with the publishing of the book, a series of lectures and study groups will be held to promote the awareness of laws protecting women. Taiwanese opera (
"But now with this book, I don't have to pass as a man to have my rights secured," she said.
The book is available at the Eslite Bookstore (
NEXT GENERATION: The four plants in the Central Taiwan Science Park, designated Fab 25, would consist of four 1.4-nanometer wafer manufacturing plants, TSMC said Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC, 台積電) plans to begin construction of four new plants later this year, with the aim to officially launch production of 2-nanometer semiconductor wafers by late 2028, Central Taiwan Science Park Bureau director-general Hsu Maw-shin (許茂新) said. Hsu made the announcement at an event on Friday evening celebrating the Central Taiwan Science Park’s 22nd anniversary. The second phase of the park’s expansion would commence with the initial construction of water detention ponds and other structures aimed at soil and water conservation, Hsu said. TSMC has officially leased the land, with the Central Taiwan Science Park having handed over the
AUKUS: The Australian Ambassador to the US said his country is working with the Pentagon and he is confident that submarine issues will be resolved Australian Ambassador to the US Kevin Rudd on Friday said that if Taiwan were to fall to China’s occupation, it would unleash China’s military capacities and capabilities more broadly. He also said his country is working with the Pentagon on the US Department of Defense’s review of the AUKUS submarine project and is confident that all issues raised will be resolved. Rudd, who served as Australian prime minister from 2007 to 2010 and for three months in 2013, made the remarks at the Aspen Security Forum in Colorado and stressed the longstanding US-Australia alliance and his close relationship with the US Undersecretary
‘WORLD WAR III’: Republican Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene said the aid would inflame tensions, but her amendment was rejected 421 votes against six The US House of Representatives on Friday passed the Department of Defense Appropriations Act for fiscal 2026, which includes US$500 million for Taiwan. The bill, which totals US$831.5 billion in discretionary spending, passed in a 221-209 vote. According to the bill, the funds for Taiwan would be administered by the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency and would remain available through Sept. 30, 2027, for the Taiwan Security Cooperation Initiative. The legislation authorizes the US Secretary of Defense, with the agreement of the US Secretary of State, to use the funds to assist Taiwan in procuring defense articles and services, and military training. Republican Representative
TAIWAN IS TAIWAN: US Representative Tom Tiffany said the amendment was not controversial, as ‘Taiwan is not — nor has it ever been — part of Communist China’ The US House of Representatives on Friday passed an amendment banning the US Department of Defense from creating, buying or displaying any map that shows Taiwan as part of the People’s Republic of China (PRC). The “Honest Maps” amendment was approved in a voice vote on Friday as part of the Department of Defense Appropriations Act for the 2026 fiscal year. The amendment prohibits using any funds from the act to create, buy or display maps that show Taiwan, Kinmen, Matsu, Penghu, Wuciou (烏坵), Green Island (綠島) or Orchid Island (Lanyu, 蘭嶼) as part of the PRC. The act includes US$831.5 billion in