Committee of Women’s Rights Promotion was established on January 23, 1996. In response to the enforcement of the Regulations Governing the Protection of Women's Rights and Interests in 2005, it was renamed. Subsequently, to reflect the development of diverse gender-related issues and the diversity of committee members, it was renamed the Taipei City Gender Equality Committee in 2021. As the first govermentally established committee in Taiwan with non-governmental participation, the task-based committee focuses on promoting gender equality and women's rights. It is now in its 13th term and has operated for over 20 years, launching many Taipei-led innovative "firsts" in Taiwan. The committee plays an important role in advising, instructing, and supervising the city's gender-related policies and measures.
This is the first public-private partnership organization in the country where women and gender groups, experts and scholars participate in public affairs, trailblazing a new landscape of promoting women's rights and advancing gender equality in Taiwan, and establishing a new model of participatory democracy. Prior to this, women and sexual minorities were often excluded from the core decision-making processes, resulting in their disadvantaged position. Their voices and needs were often unintentionally ignored or intentionally silenced, leading to the sacrifice of their rights and demands under patriarchal ideology. Therefore, the establishment of this committee has provided opportunities for women and sexual minorities in Taipei City to advocate for their own rights and has made significant contributions to creating a gender-friendly city.
The Office for Gender Equality was established by the city authority on March 7, 2014, as the supporting unit of the committee, actively promoting women's rights and implementing gender equality. The committee holds at least four meetings annually and has three working groups involving 33 primary government agencies and institutions. Composition of the Committee The Gender Equality Committee is characterized by its diversity of members and their focus on gender issues.
The committee consists of 30 to 35 members, including 1 chairperson, a position concurrently held by the Mayor, 2 vice-chairpersons, and other representatives from relevant government agencies, experts and scholars, and representatives from women/gender organizations. The term of each committee member is 2 years.
Missions of the Committee
1. Promote the formulation of laws and regulations on gender equality, women's policies and women's protection.
2. Supervise the implementation of gender equality and women's rights related policies by relevant government agencies.
3. Review relevant municipal policies to ensure they align with the principles of gender equality.
4. Collaborate with governmental and non-governmental organizations to jointly promote gender equality.
5. Provide consultation on issues related to gender equality and women's rights and interests.
6. Advance and oversee the implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and its enforcement laws.