Ahead of International Women’s Day today, President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) yesterday acknowledged the contributions made by women and promised to include gender impact assessments in government policies and establish a gender equality mechanism.
“Making sure women are safe, respecting diversity, implementing gender equality and promoting gender parity in politics are our goals and we should value women’s contributions to the workplace and in the family and make sure they receive equal treatment,” Ma said in a written statement.
In a piece titled “Appreciation and blessings to all women in the country,” Ma said his government had requested that all government bodies conduct gender impact assessments before presenting long-term projects and bills, and that his administration would set up a gender equality mechanism as part of efforts to include gender equality in government policies.
About 30 percent of legislators in Taiwan are women, a ratio that is much higher than in other Asian countries — including Japan, South Korea and Singapore — Ma said, adding that his government had worked to carry out his election campaign promise to increase the number of female members in all government committees to 30 percent and to alllow an equal opportunity to participate in the decision-making process of major policies.
At a separate setting yesterday, Premier Liu Chao-shiuan (劉兆玄) said each government department should prioritize women’s rights to create a more friendly environment.
“There is still a lot of improvement to be made as the participation of women in politics and labor is lower than men’s, as is their average income,” he said.
Describing women as an important pillar of society, Liu said their sense of responsibility and innate understanding of the “big picture” made them a precious resource.
Minister of the Interior Liao Liou-yi (廖了以) said Taiwan ranked No. 22 in the UN’s gender development index (GDI) and No. 24 in the gender empowerment measure (GEM).
The GDI assesses women’s life expectancy, gross enrolment rate, literacy and income, while the GEM measures increases in women’s political and economic decision-making power, as well as participation in professional fields.
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