DPP legislator draws attention to gender equality

To help set up a Cabinet-level commission on gender equality (性別平等委員會), DPP Legislator Yeh Yi-ching (葉宜津) proposed using next year's general election to heighten the awareness of this issue.

"Since the amendment bill of the Organic Law of the Executive Yuan (行政院組織法) has already been submitted to the Legislative Yuan, we are now left with two alternatives: either to persuade caucuses in individual parties, or to use the general election to bring attention to our position," said Yeh, who is now in charge of the DPP's Department of Women's Development.

The Commission on Women's Rights Promotion (CWRP) held a public hearing on the setup of the proposed commission yesterday, together with several women groups including National Union of Taiwan Women's Associations (NUTWA), Awakening Foundation and Taiwan Women's Link.

Yu Mei-Nu (尤美女), Chairwoman of the NUTWA said, "The Commission on Women's Rights Promotion is only a temporary organization within the Legislative Yuan.

"Only with a permanent commission can the policies of women-related issues be made and executed," she said.

She further pointed out that CWRP is headed by the premier, how it is run all dependz on the attitude of the administration in power. If a premier does not care much about women's affairs, then not much would be accomplished, she said.

Draft legislation to amend the Organic Law of the Executive Yuan was submitted to the Legislative Yuan in April but it contained no mention of a commission on gender equality.