2026-10-6


On October 12, 2026, The Taichung City Government will inaugurate the "2026 Taichung Gender Equality Cities Forum" at the Taichung International Convention and Exhibition Center (TICEC). As a pioneer among local governments since 2018, Taichung has demonstrated exceptional institutional resilience, maintaining this critical platform even throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. This year’s forum directly aligns with the priority theme of the 71st Session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW71) scheduled for 2027: "Global Progress on Gender Equality: Accelerating the Empowerment of Women and Girls within the Framework of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development." By translating global governance frameworks into concrete local actions, the forum reinforces the intersectional links between SDG 5 (Gender Equality), SDG 4 (Quality Education), and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities).


Keynote Excellence: Closing Intersectional Disparities within the 2030 Agenda

The forum’s strategic vision was anchored by a keynote address from Director General Chiu-Chun Lin from the Executive Yuan’s Gender Equality Department further elevated the dialogue, showcasing Taiwan’s national commitment to institutionalizing gender-responsiveness and aligning local municipal planning with world-class policy standards. The presence of Ms. Mondhiya Bhangsbha, President of PPSEAWA International and Vice President of CoNGO for Asia Pacific. Her address, "Trends in Gender Equality: Closing the Gaps Between Disadvantaged and Advantaged Groups to Achieve SDGs," provides a roadmap for addressing intersectional disparities and fostering inclusive equity under SDG 10. 


Thematic Panels: Intersectional Climate Resilience and Economic Empowerment

Through two expert panel discussions, this forum directly addresses the most pressing international gender issues and features leading experts from both home and abroad.


Panel I: Advancing Gender Equality in Climate Change, Environmental, and Disaster Risk Reduction Policies and Programmes

  • Moderator：Director Yi-sheng Yang, ICLEI Kaohsiung Capacity Center
  • Speakers：
    • Dr. & Professor Yasue Nunoshiba, Chair, BPW International Task Force W7 2025~2027
    • Ms. Chiu-Ling Liu, Vice President of TRENA (Taiwan Renewable Energy Alliance)
  • Core Value: This session emphasizes the inclusion of women's decision-making power in Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) policies. Through the participation of international organizations such as ICLEI and BPW W7, it explores how to build gender resilience in the face of global environmental challenges.


Panel II: Strengthening Cross-sectoral Cooperation on Gender Equality: Promoting Connectivity, Financial Cooperation, and Market Integration to Achieve Sustainable Development Goals

  • Moderator: Dr. Christine Cho, Governor of Soroptimist International, Taiwan Region
  • Speakers: 
    • Ms.Gwenyth Wang-Reeves, Director of Government Affairs, GE Vernova
    • Ms. Hsiu-Mei Liao, Chairman of Howard Resort Xitou
  • Core Value：Focusing on the role of the private sector in advancing SDG 5, this analysis examines how the financial services and tourism industries strengthen women's economic empowerment through market integration and resource sharing, thereby establishing a model mechanism for public-private dialogue.


Digital Inclusivity and Local Impact: Modeling a Gender-Friendly Asia

To fulfill the mandate of SDG 4 regarding inclusive empowerment, the forum utilized a hybrid format, integrating 150 physical attendees with 300 virtual participants. This multi-stakeholder engagement—comprising government officials, youth leaders, and civil society—leverages digital tools to overcome geographic and socio-economic barriers, ensuring that marginalized voices have equal access to global policy discourse. This hybrid approach underscores Taichung’s ambition to become a model gender-friendly city in Asia by fostering a truly accessible and participatory policy environment.