Today at the 10th meeting of the Executive Yuan's Gender Equality Committee (GEC), committee members recommended that the media's responsibilities be appropriately regulated by law in order to realize self-discipline and gender equality in the sector.
In response to this recommendation, Premier Mao Chi-kuo has tasked the Executive Yuan's Department of Gender Equality to incorporate the concept in its drafting of a gender equality basic law. As for self-regulatory measures, the Ministry of Culture (MOC) and the National Communications Commission (NCC) must work hand in hand with the GEC members to formulate guidelines so as to engender an environment of gender equality in audio-visual and print media, Mao said.
The GEC members condemned the irresponsibility of media that continue to detract, humiliate and discriminate against the female sex in news reports, particularly given the press's power as the Fourth Estate.
The NCC stated that both the appraisal guidelines for radio and television business operation plan implementation and the regulations governing radio and television business license applications and renewals have already incorporated gender equality as a major item in the appraisal report and in the license application and renewal documents, respectively. Operators and applicants are required to submit relevant evidential information on gender equality and the weight given to this subject. The purpose is to have operators pay special attention to relevant issues.
The MOC stated that it will continue to subsidize activities related to media self-discipline and enhancing media quality, while placing emphasis on investigative gender-equality reports in order to raise the awareness and quality of print media.
The GEC members also expressed concerned about crew members' labor conditions at China Airlines. The Ministry of Labor (MOL) stated that it is currently formulating a guideline on reasonable work hours for airline crew and will also conduct occupational safety inspections of the airlines. Premier Mao instructed the Civil Aeronautics Administration to first employ executive orders to guarantee appropriate working hours for crew members while the MOL proceeds with relevant legal amendments.