Mon, Apr 16, 2001 page3

• Women's groups join forces

  NETWORK The National Union of Taiwan Women hopes to increase support and education for women in rural areas through the coordination of resources from across the nation

  • By Irene Lin / STAFF REPORTER
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  The women's movement in Taiwan entered a new phase yesterday with the formation of a nationwide women's network. This network seeks to remove the imbalance of attention given to women's rights in urban and rural areas.

  In early 1971, Taiwan society was overwhelmed by discussion of how to keep the number of female students in universities from increasing. At that time, Vice President Annette Lu (呂秀蓮) returned to Taiwan from the US and she proceeded to advocate fresh ideas about feminism.

  She persisted in her efforts, despite coercion and intimidation by security agents, eventually paving the way for the women's movement in Taiwan. In the 1980s a group of women activists succeeded Lu and struggled to raise women's awareness of their rights.

  

  Vice President Annette Lu signs and sticks a candle-shaped paper cutout on a wall during yesterday's launch ceremony in Taipei for the National Union of Taiwan Women.

  PHOTO: LIAO RAY-SHANG, TAIPEI TIMES

  Following a stage of education in the 1980s, more and more young women became devoted to the women's liberation movement and, in the 1990s, have successfully pushed through legal and institutional changes relating to women's rights.

  Speaking at the formation of the National Union of Taiwan Women (台灣婦女團體全國聯合會) in Taipei yesterday, the vice president recalled her 30-year struggle for women's rights and spelled out expectations for the future.

  "With the formation of the union, we are going to work together with women's groups from all over the country to remedy the long-existing gap between women in urban and in rural areas," Lu said. "And it's from here that the country's women's movement must now enter the fourth phase, where there is no more competition, but coordination."

  The idea of creating a national women's union was first initiated by Lu, and it has now been joined by over 60 women's organizations from across the country who have concerns over the issues of women's rights, development, education, health, culture and the environment.

  The union's formation yesterday was celebrated by women activists, as well as female Cabinet members and legislators. Over 60 foreign guests also joined the event, including members of legislatures in the US, Canada, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, New Zealand, Korea and the Marshall Islands.

  David Wu (吳振偉), the first Taiwanese-American member of the US House of Representatives, was one of the few male guests yesterday.

  You Mei-nu (尤美女), newly elected chairwoman of the union, pointed out that as most women's groups in Taiwan are based in Taipei and Kaohsiung City, women in the cities have enjoyed superior protection and more rights than their counterparts in other areas of the country.

  "Because of a shortage of information and resources in rural areas, the women there have not had the same protection and opportunities as women in urban areas. Even though we've succeeded in enabling some women to live better lives over the years, the women's movement cannot be called successful as there are still many others who are kept in the dark about their rights," the new chairwoman said.

  You also said that while the number of women's groups in Taiwan has grown over the past decade, problems have arisen in that available resources are not being used efficiently.

  For instance, while there is more than one group in Taipei that dedicates time and money to gender education, the subject is unheard of in other localities, she said.

  The formation of the network therefore intends to coordinate women's organizations with respect to resources and information.

  "Through the union, we will be able to access complete information about women's conditions nationwide, and work to spend the money -- some from the government and some from private funding -- economically and efficiently," You said.

  The union's future plans include examining central government budgets and reviewing the enforcement of various women's policies.

  It will also assist its grassroots member groups in monitoring conditions of women in local governments.

  In addition, it is set to present annual reports examining women's conditions all over the country.
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