LGBTI human rights conference staged by Taiwan, EU in Taipei

2019/10/28

The EU-Taiwan LGBTI Human Rights Conference kicked off Oct. 24 in Taipei City, reflecting the commitment of both sides to promoting marriage equality and protecting equal rights for all.
 
 Co-organized by the Cabinet-level Gender Equality Committee, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Economic and Trade Office, the two-day event is being attended by 260 experts, officials and representatives from 31 countries and territories, including MOFA Minister Jaushieh Joseph Wu and newly appointed EETO head Filip Tadeusz Grzegorzewski.
 
 In his opening remarks, Vice President Chen Chien-jen said the timing of the event is significant given Taiwan in May became the first country in Asia to legalize same-sex marriage.
 
 The milestone development serves as an example of how a democratic society can address highly emotive issues while embracing the values of freedom, inclusiveness and the rule of law, he said.
 
 According to the vice president, Taiwan and the EU have been working together on advancing gender equality and human rights protection since 2015.
 
 During the first Taiwan-EU human rights consultation staged last year in Taipei, the two sides agreed to set up a three-year equality cooperation and training framework to enhance exchanges among countries and territories in the region, Chen said.
 
 Government efforts in this regard have paid off, with Taiwan now a front-runner in Asia in promoting gender equality, he said, citing the amendments to the Gender Equality Policy Guidelines in 2017 and the promulgation of the Enforcement Act of Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women in 2011.
 
 Representing the EU, Grzegorzewski congratulated Taiwan for legalizing same-sex marriage, saying that the achievement reflects the efforts and determination of human rights activists as well as the political will and courage of the nation’s lawmakers.
 
 The EETO head said Taiwan stands as beacon of democracy and a symbol of acceptance, diversity and openness. He hoped the event can serve as a platform to share successful experiences and promote human rights in other parts of the world.

Source: Taiwan Today (https://taiwantoday.tw/index.php)