2026-4-15

On March 13, the Taipei Economic and Cultural office in New York held the Taiwan Women’s Power and Cultural Night. Vice President Bi-khim Hsiao addressed the event in a prerecorded video message that highlighted Taiwan’s achievements in gender equality for the international community. 

Leading political figures from Taiwan’s diplomatic allies delivered remarks in person. Speakers included Emma Hippolyte, Minister of Equity of Saint Lucia; Laverne Gibson-Velox, Minister of Family and Gender Affairs of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; and Eselealofa Apinelu, High Commissioner of Tuvalu to Fiji. The presentations were well received by an enthusiastic audience of over 100 representatives from Taiwan’s diplomatic allies, like-minded countries, the UN community, and nongovernmental organizations.

The cultural night and other related activities were organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Department of NGO International Affairs with the aim of encouraging Taiwanese NGOs to host events under the NGO Committee on the Status of Women Civil Society Forum. Kang Chia-chi, Deputy Director General of the Department of NGO International Affairs, and other department staff traveled to New York to attend various events, leverage Taiwan’s soft power in gender issues, and promote Taiwan in New York through government-NGO cooperation.

This year’s Taiwan Forum was cohosted by MOFA, the Foundation for Women’s Rights Promotion and Development, and the World Taiwan Foundation—which has special consultative status with the UN Economic and Social Council. Lin Ching-yi, Deputy Minister of Health and Welfare, delivered a keynote address to the forum via livestream. She engaged in a discussion with international experts and scholars on issues of gender governance and equality. In a further demonstration of Taiwan’s strong commitment to gender issues, Taiwanese NGOs and local governments organized over 30 parallel events at the NGO CSW Forum this year.