The Executive Yuan said today that it has released Taiwan's second national report on implementation of the United Nations' Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW).
Completed at the end of 2013, the document describes major achievements in women's rights from 2009 to 2012, including the establishment of gender equality mechanisms, enactment of regulations, and promotion of women's participation in politics, public affairs and international organizations. The report also details various advances in the areas of personal safety, education, employment, health, welfare, family and marriage.
According to the Executive Yuan, since the convention was implemented in Taiwan, the government has devoted extensive efforts to conducting publicity campaigns, reviewing domestic laws and regulations, and drafting the CEDAW national reports. The government will continue to step up support for women's rights and gender equality, forging an equal footing for men and women based on the standards specified by the CEDAW.
Taiwan made a move to bring its women's rights up to par with international human rights norms in 2007 when the Legislative Yuan ratified the CEDAW into domestic law. On June 8, 2011, the government enacted the Enforcement Act of CEDAW and implemented it on January 1, 2012, formally proclaiming to the world Taiwan's determination to safeguard women's rights.
According to Article 6 of the Enforcement Act, the government is required to establish a reporting system for eliminating all forms of discrimination against women and provide a national report every four years. The first national report was produced in 2009 and the second in 2013 to describe Taiwan's progress in promoting CEDAW-related work.
This second document was jointly written by the five branches of the central government—Executive Yuan, Legislative Yuan, Judicial Yuan, Examination Yuan and Control Yuan—in compliance with the articles and general recommendations of the CEDAW. The document also incorporated suggestions from domestic experts and scholars as well as public feedback gathered at 23 forums, public hearings and consultation meetings. After a year of extensive discussions and communication, the report was completed and approved by the Executive Yuan's Committee of Gender Equality in December 2013.
Foreign experts will be invited to Taiwan in June 2014 to review this report and offer their advice on concrete measures for promoting women's rights. Representatives from nongovernmental organizations and the five central branches will also attend the review. This document will expand Taiwan's dialogue and exchanges in gender equality with the international community.