[New Taipei City News] The New Taipei City Social Affairs Bureau, with the support of Ming Chuan University, has collaborated with the South Chungcheong Province Social Service Institute of South Korea to hold international forums for two consecutive years. This year, the focus was on “Local Government’s Role in Promoting a Gender-Equal Society”. South Chungcheong Province shared its experience on “Improving the Lives of Chungnam Residents through Gender Impact Assessments”, detailing how legal regulations and gender impact assessments have been used to modify policies and improve people’s lives. New Taipei City, in turn, shared its insights on “The Development and Prospects of CEDAW in New Taipei”, showcasing its achievements in promoting the United Nations’ Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). The city also used its experience with CEDAW city reports to strengthen dialogue and connections with international partners, working alongside South Chungcheong Province to localize the spirit of the international convention.
Ming Chuan University’s Chair Professor and University Affairs Consultant, Wu Hsin-Hsing, expressed that the purpose of this international forum was to assist in establishing an exchange platform for both cities, facilitating future cooperation on gender equality initiatives. He also extended his gratitude to the New Taipei City Government for their support. In addition to the morning forum, an afternoon visit to gender-friendly restrooms and gender equality bases was arranged, leaving a lasting impression on the Korean delegation.
Song, Mi-Young, Director of the Research Department at the Women and Family Youth Social Service Institute, South Chungcheong Province, noted that to create a more gender-friendly living environment, the South Korean government established the Framework Act on Gender Equality in 2015. The law mandates that government agencies incorporate gender equality perspectives when formulating, revising, applying policies, or drafting budgets to achieve gender mainstreaming. As a result, the South Chungcheong Provincial Government utilizes gender impact assessments when designing policies, local regulations, and promotional campaigns to address gender representation imbalances and strives to challenge public gender stereotypes.
Lee, Mei-Jen, Director of the New Taipei City Social Affairs Bureau, shared that after New Taipei City released Taiwan’s first CEDAW city report in April 2023, it proactively reviewed its progress in promoting gender equality policies. In 2024, it collaborated with non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to present its methods for advancing gender equality policies at the United Nations CSW 68 in-person forum. This initiative not only helped the city understand international women’s issues and observe global best practices but also sought opportunities for cooperation with international governmental and non-governmental organizations, enhancing New Taipei City’s international perspective in promoting gender equality.
During the open discussion, Lee, Kyung-Ha, Director of the Gender Impact Evaluation Center at the South Chungcheong Province Women and Family Youth Social Service Institute, expressed particular interest in New Taipei City’s gender-friendly restrooms, especially the provision of free menstrual supplies, which she praised as a practice worth adopting in South Korea. She also commended New Taipei’s advanced concepts, such as offering funeral services for diverse genders and using terms such as “spouse” to replace the traditional terms of widow or widower.