Three female lawmakers from the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) have launched an anti-sexual harassment campaign called “WeAreOne.”
DPP lawmaker Fan Yun said on Thursday that Taiwan has seen a string of sexual harassment cases, especially in fields “where power carries weight and a respect for professionalism is desired”. That’s despite that the existence of laws such as the Act of Gender Equality in Employment, the Gender Equity Education Act, and the Sexual Harassment Prevention Act.
Fan said the momentum of the #Me Too Movement has not been enough to tackle the problem of sexual harassment in Taiwan. To address the issue, Fan said she will propose a revision to the Act of Gender Equality in Employment so that sexual harassment in the workplace will no longer be covered up.
The sociologist-turned-lawmaker said the long-term culture of silence prevalent in Taiwan must be changed and that better legislation is needed to protect victims from unfair treatment or revenge by employers.
Fan and other activists said the “WeAreOne” campaign is only the first step. They are also planning to hold symposiums for people working in fields such as politics, medical care, and sports.