Among the 11 major areas of the “Healthy Taiwan” plan — encompassing measures related to chronic disease prevention, child health, public mental health support, the health of indigenous people and cancer prevention, among others — there has yet to be any sign of a specific program related to women’s health.
This is in direct contrast to Taiwan’s efforts to become a nation that prioritizes human rights, including the development of the National Human Rights Commission to work toward these ideals, which includes the establishment of treaty review mechanisms for international conventions such as the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).
The convention, in line with the UN system, invites leading human rights experts to review policies. The “Healthy Taiwan” plan’s lack of any major discussion of women’s health is truly a missed opportunity.
The outdated and traditional notion that women have a natural “duty” to reproduce due to their sex has led to the unequal treatment of women in many contexts. The “glass ceiling” in the workplace — an unseen barrier that prevents women from advancing their careers — is a great example of this.
The most important step to eliminating inequalities for women that are caused by sex and reproductive capabilities is to allow women maximum control over reproductive decisions, including both the right to become pregnant and to determine whether to terminate a pregnancy.
CEDAW’s Article 16(1)(e) states that, on the basis of equality of men and women, all states should ensure women have “the same rights to decide freely and responsibly on the number and spacing of their children and to have access to the information, education, and means to enable them to exercise these rights.”
This means that women should have the freedom to make their own decisions regarding the timing and all other circumstances of a pregnancy.
The Medical and Service Delivery Guidance for Emergency Contraception — jointly drafted by the International Consortium for Emergency Contraception and the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics — emphasizes that women should be given easy access to emergency contraception and should be able to decide whether to use it without the need to first consult a physician. This not only protects women’s right to choose, but prevents them from being forced to bear the costs and risks of surgical and medical abortions.
Among the top 10 most advanced pharmaceutical states, nine have made emergency contraception available over-the-counter (OTC) — the US, which requires physician consultation for females under 16, the UK, Switzerland, Canada, France, Belgium, Sweden, Australia and Germany. Even Japan implemented a pilot program last year that allows the sale of OTC emergency contraception.
Despite international circumstances having prevented Taiwan from completing the ratification process for most international conventions, Taiwan enacted the Enforcement Act of Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (消除對婦女一切形式歧視公約施行法) in 2011. The act domestically legislated the convention’s provisions.
The reclassification of emergency contraceptive pills is an indispensable piece of the puzzle to ensure the health and rights of women. It should be implemented as soon as possible to meet Taiwan’s goal of becoming a nation prioritizing human rights and make the currently deficient “Healthy Taiwan” plan truly complete.
Huang Jin-shun is president of the Federation of Taiwan Pharmacist Associations.
Translated by Kyra Gustavsen
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