Renowned US women’s rights activist visits Taiwan

2015-01-13

Violence against women is a global scourge that can only be defeated through the participation of all members of the international community, according to U.S. activist Eve Ensler Jan. 8 in Taipei City.

“Patriarchy seems to have reached across the entire planet and impacted women in very similar ways,” Ensler said, adding that this is a social problem requiring more involvement from men. “But when you are privileged, when you have the power, it is a responsibility.”

Founder of the women’s rights campaign One Billion Rising, Ensler and OBR Director Monique Wilson arrived Jan. 7 in Taiwan for a seven-day visit at the invitation of Taipei-based the Garden of Hope Foundation.

Ensler is renowned for her award-winning play “The Vagina Monologues,” which has been translated into around 50 languages and performed in over 140 countries since its 1996 premiere in New York. She also founded the V-Day and OBR campaigns in 1998 and 2013, respectively—undertakings that raised more than US$100 million in support of related projects worldwide.

Since touching down in Taiwan, Ensler has given a speech in Taipei, taken part in women-themed events in Taitung County and met with officials in Kaohsiung City. She is also scheduled to have face time with Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je.

According to the GHF, the organization first introduced Ensler’s award-winning play to Taiwan in 2005 and has been staging OBR promotional events for the past three years.

“We hope Ensler’s trip will enhance awareness of key women’s issues in Taiwan and inspire more people to commit themselves to the anti-violence movement,” a GHF official said.

Source: Taiwan Today (http://taiwantoday.tw/ct.asp?xItem=226100&CtNode=413)