To mark the nearing 45th anniversary of the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) held an “International Forum on Women’s Employment and Economic Security” today. This event saw the arrival of two distinguished guests, former Vice Chair of the UN CEDAW Committee, Prof. Ruth Halperin-Kaddari, and former Committee Member, Prof. Niklas Bruun, from Israel and Finland, respectively. The two experts delivered keynote speeches on gender equality in marriage and family, economic security, and women’s right to work. The forum facilitated discussions between international experts, domestic scholars, and representatives from the public and private sectors, who were all keen to address Taiwan’s current landscape and the challenges ahead. NHRC Chairperson Chen Chu recounted Taiwan’s significant achievements over the past 15 years in implementing the conclusions of successive CEDAW international reviews. Landmark achievements include the decriminalization of adultery, the legalization of same-sex marriage, the establishment of the NHRC, and crucial amendments to gender violence prevention laws. However, she also noted persistent challenges, such as women’s employment and economic equality in marriage and family systems. Chen hoped the forum would spark insightful dialogues and draw from global experiences to surmount these obstacles and pave the way for meaningful reform.
Chen highlighted CEDAW’s significance since its adoption in December 1979, with over 90% of countries worldwide recognizing its human rights standards. Taiwan, however, was initially disconnected from this international women’s human rights code due to martial law and unique geopolitical circumstances. It wasn’t until the political shift in 2000—spurred by women's organizations—that CEDAW began to take root locally. In 2009, Taiwan published its first national report on CEDAW and has since undergone four national report reviews—marking 15 years of committed progress. The melding of CEDAW principles with Taiwan’s women’s rights movement has given the nation a unified language and clear standards for evaluating gender equality. It has also offered a comprehensive definition of “discrimination.”
Chen emphasized that each generation faces its own set of challenges. True gender equality, she insisted, can only be achieved through generational relay and unwavering dedication. She hailed this forum as the perfect celebration of CEDAW’s 45th anniversary, bringing together a powerhouse of domestic and international experts to reflect on Taiwan’s journey and tackle persistent challenges head-on. We especially thank Professors Halperin-Kaddari and Bruun for traveling from afar to enrich the forum with their expertise.
Prof. Ruth Halperin-Kaddari, who undertook a 30-hour-long journey from Israel to Taiwan, spoke on gender equality and economic security for spouses and tracked the progress of gender equality in families. She highlighted that marriage—a common phase in women’s lives—significantly impacts women due to entrenched gender inequalities within the system.
Statistics reveal that women perform 75% of unpaid work globally, spending three times more on caregiving and household tasks than men daily. Prof. Halperin-Kaddari underscored that family inequality often stems from traditional roles and stereotypes and makes the family unit a breeding ground for other forms of discrimination and one of the hardest areas to reform.
Prof. Niklas Bruun, who traveled from Finland, shared compelling international cases on women’s rights in the workplace. He emphasized that a robust education system protecting the rights of women and girls is fundamental to ensuring women’s work rights.
Prof. Bruun noted that gender pay gaps remain challenging in many CEDAW member countries, including Taiwan. He advocated for innovative solutions by looking at successful international models. For instance, the EU’s adoption of pay transparency and enforcement mechanisms in May 2023 reinforces the principle of equal pay for equal work or work of equal value.
The forum was moderated by Commissioners Tien Chiu-chin, Wang Yu-ling, and Chi Hui-jung. Among the notable attendees were Deputy Chairperson Tsai Chung-yi, Commissioners Yeh Ta-hua, Upay Radiw Kanasaw, Wang Jung-chang, Director Liu Ying-hsiu of the Department of Legal Affairs at the Ministry of Justice, Distinguished Professor Tai Yu-zu of NCCU’s College of Law, and Chen Ling-yi, a board member of the Awakening Foundation.
Looking ahead, the NHRC will host a CEDAW international workshop tomorrow. This event will feature two international human rights experts and representatives from domestic public sectors and NGOs. They will explore topics like the Istanbul Convention, CEDAW General Recommendation No. 35, and balancing family caregiving with work. Internal training sessions will also be held, with the experts sharing their invaluable experiences handling gender discrimination cases.