Taiwan, Australia and the U.S. jointly launched the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Women and the Economy Subfund Nov. 10 in Danang, Vietnam, underscoring the member economies’ shared commitment to fostering women’s empowerment across the region.
The subfund’s establishment was announced on the first day of the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting running until Nov. 11 in the Vietnamese city. The initiative was unveiled by James Soong, Taiwan’s envoy to the event, Australia’s Consul-General in Ho Chi Minh City Karen Lanyon and U.S. Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Thomas Shannon.
Under the project first proposed by Soong and then-U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry during last year’s APEC summit, Taiwan, Australia and the U.S. will provide US$500,000, 1 million Australian dollars (US$767,800) and US$500,000, respectively, to the subfund.
The funding will enable the organization’s 21 member economies to support new or existing projects aimed at promoting the key pillars in the APEC Policy Partnership on Women and the Economy. These are capital and market access, innovation and technology, skills and capacity building, and women’s leadership and agency.
According to Soong, gender equality is at the heart of human rights and the government of Taiwan is sparing no effort in ensuring gender-friendly workplaces, enhancing female education and talent cultivation, and promoting women’s employment and entrepreneurship.
The significant progress that Taiwan has achieved in fostering women’s empowerment and leadership is underscored by the election of the country’s first female president, Tsai Ing-wen, in 2016, as well as the proportion of women lawmakers in the Legislature, currently 38.1 percent, Soong added.
Shannon said APEC is an important platform for advancing gender equality in the Asia-Pacific. He expressed appreciation for Taiwan’s participation in the subfund, adding that the nation’s sponsorship for the initiative is in line with its long-term support for international gender equality projects.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Taiwan has made great strides in promoting female political participation, enhancing women’s economic empowerment and eliminating sexual violence. The subfund demonstrates the government’s commitment to sharing its experiences and advancing global development, and reflects the mutual trust and strong partnership between Taiwan and the U.S. under the APEC framework, the ministry said. (SFC-E)
Write to Taiwan Today at ttonline@mofa.gov.tw