In the mid-1980s, Taiwan's industrial structure gradually changed from manufacturing to service, women entered the workplace in large numbers. However, marriage and pregnancey prohibition clauses remained common in work contracts.


The staff of the Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Museum signed a petition demanding the Museum cancel the regulation that female employees must leave their jobs when they turn 30 or get pregnant, which led to the “Act of Gender Equality in Employment.”

In 1996, the famous feminist Peng Wanru was killed. Inspired the "Feminist Fire Night Road" night march, which involved more than 20,000 people, demanding the government pay attention to women's physical safety.


Deng Ruwen, who has been subject to domestic violence for a long time, made society face the problem of domestic violence and asked the government to provide protective measures. In 1998, Taiwan became the first country in Asia to have a “Domestic Violence Prevention Act” and a civil law protection order.

In 2005, Taiwan’s government actively promoted "gender mainstreaming", which requires a gender perspective in all government policies and programs to end inequality.


In 2007, the President signed and promulgated CEDAW. The following year, the "Taiwan National Women's Pavilion" officially opened on March 8, Women's Day, which is the first national women's pavilion and a window for international exchange.

In 2012, Taiwan’s government set up a department to comprehensively promote gender equality and women's rights and interests by the central government.


In 2016, Taiwanese people elected their first female president.


In 2019, Taiwan became the first country in Asia to legalize same-sex marriage on May 17, the International Day Against Homophobia.

Gathering the voices of Taiwanese NGOs and amplifying women's rights and gender volume during Women's March. By holding the Taiwan Gender Equality Week and a series of activities, we let the world know about Taiwan, and recognize the lovely people in this land who promote gender equality with the spirit of freedom and democracy.


During the COVID-19 pandemic, upholding the spirit of #TaiwanCanHelp and the resilience of social workers, we shared Taiwan's experience as a gender leader in Asia and the resilience of female leadership in the pandemic era.

The impact of the pandemic on women is not only their health but also their safety and economy. In 2021, under the core spirit of #Taiwanforher, Taiwan Gender Equality Week brought together public and private sector partners from the United States, Sweden, and Kosovo to call on world leaders to promote women's economic autonomy and gender equality in investment for women’s future after the pandemic.


Taiwan's civil forces should not be underestimated! Taiwan's women/gender organizations invited more than 120 global women's movement workers to speak out at the NGO CSW65 Forum! 26 parallel conferences and thematic forums accumulated more than 20,000 visits, while social media reach exceeded 50 million!

Women’s Power Night "Women Lead Climate Action", invited about 150 ambassadors and representatives of Taiwan’s NGOs and government to participate, promoting foreign interaction and deepening the impression of Taiwan’s commitment to sustainable development.


Taiwan Main Stage: Climate Justice Leader’s Seminar, invited female leaders from the public and private sectors to discuss and enhance the importance of women's participation in climate decision-making, and demonstrate the concrete results of Taiwan's promotion of climate justice.


NGO CSW66 Forum, Taiwan’s NGOs committed to promoting sustainable living and sharing local climate actions with the world.

In response to the #MeToo movement in Taiwan, civil voices urged the government to address the inequalities in gender power structures that lead to sexual harassment, sexual assault, and sexual exploitation in workplaces and schools. Legislative amendments were made and implemented in 2024 to protect the body autonomy of women and youth.

In 2024, the registration of cross-national same-sex marriages is no longer restricted by the legality of same-sex marriage in each country, allowing cross-national same-sex couples in Taiwan to register legally.

Since the parental leave policy amendments in 2021 and 2022, more men are shouldering family care work. Additionally, years of effort are yielding results as more women are joining boardrooms and STEM fields.

2025 marks a moment of reflection and responsibility on the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (BPfA), and a timely opportunity to translate Taiwan’s gender equality journey into shared global knowledge.

This year, Taiwan Night: Celebrating Women’s Resilience and Progress presented the values of peace, love, and hope by showcasing women’s resilience in addressing environmental challenges, promoting ethnic inclusion, and advancing peace, in response to the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (BPfA).

In addition, the exhibition traced Taiwan’s journey from the past to the present, highlighting the strength of women and their pursuit of equality from the 1980s to today. Through collaborative creations, the exhibition demonstrated the evolving values of freedom, diversity, and gender equality in Taiwan over time.