President William Lai (賴清德) yesterday said Taiwan could become “more powerful” if women are given more support and choice in society.
“When a society is willing to give women more support and room for choices, Taiwan will not only become kinder, but also more powerful,” Lai said in a post on social marking International Women’s Day.
As year’s International Women’s Day theme is to “give to gain,” Lai said he hoped every Taiwanese woman, whether striving in the workplace or cultivating a family, could “freely become her ideal self.”
Photo: Screen grab
The Local Government Act (地方制度法) was amended last year to change the quota for elected representatives from “one-quarter female reserved seats” to one-third for any gender, Lai said.
The change is intended to make political participation “more fair” and allow more women to demonstrate their expertise and influence, he added.
The government has also promulgated the nation’s first national action plan on gender-based violence prevention, Lai said.
The plan aims to integrate violence-prevention resources to “build a more comprehensive and complete gender equality protection network,” he said.
Lai said he believes “when more women can freely flourish, this strength will allow Taiwan to go further.”
Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim (蕭美琴) yesterday wrote on social media that women can “shine” in fields where they are most skilled.
Women “can focus on contributing to their families and have indispensable roles in the workplace,” Hsiao said, adding that she hopes every girl could “freely become her ideal self,” remaining “confident, resilient and radiant.”
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