The Executive Yuan's Department of Gender Equality (DGE) announced on Saturday the results of 2019 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Women and the Economy Forum's (WEF) High-Level Policy Dialogue. Minister without Portfolio Lo Ping-cheng attended the meeting to share Taiwan's experience and accomplishments with mainstreaming gender issues and promoting women's economic participation.
This year's WEF theme is "Advancing the Inclusion of Women in the Economy," and Minister Lo called on APEC leaders and ministers to place great emphasis on moving gender issues into the mainstream in order to raise overall gender consciousness. This will allow for greater recognition of overlapping forms of discrimination and the needs of disadvantaged women. He also called for cross-fora collaboration to facilitate the promotion of gendered technological innovation and of the participation of women in non-traditional work. These actions will enable APEC members to reach the goal of removing obstacles and challenges to women's economic participation, as well as achieving inclusive development and women's economic empowerment and rights.
The WEF High-Level Policy Dialogue was held in La Serena, Chile, amid other WEF events hosted between September 30 and October 5. Minister Lo headed Taiwan's delegation.
The DGE said Taiwan proposed four projects this year in response to the WEF's call for cross-fora, cross-team cooperation on women's equal economic participation. All four received funding approval at the meeting: APEC women builders creating an inclusive future, an accelerator initiative for women-founded businesses, empowering women through new media, and fostering women's digital innovation and business-building skills.
Taiwan's delegation also engaged in bilateral discussions with Malaysia, New Zealand and the U.S., with the aim of expanding international cooperation and promoting Taiwan's proposals. The delegation also sought to strengthen bilateral ties and win support from APEC member economies for continued action.
At the WEF Taiwan moved toward the forefront with cross-fora proposals to develop woman-friendly technologies, the DGE emphasized. By facilitating such cooperation, Taiwan will continue to play an important role in the application of gendered technological innovation and programs encouraging women's participation in non-traditional vocations. The initiatives also include the needs and development of women from varying backgrounds, closure of the salary gap between the sexes, and the movement of women into leadership positions. Taiwan's endeavor to speak on behalf of APEC-region women not only advances inclusive and sustainable economic growth, but also increases the nation's global presence and development.