Taiwan’s representative to the US, Hsiao Bi-khim, says that Taiwanese female NGO workers have received unfair treatment from NGOs under the UN framework. Hsiao was speaking Wednesday at a webinar entitled “Women’s Leadership: Redesigning the Post Covid-19 Era.”
The online seminar was co-hosted by the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in New York and the government-sponsored Foundation of Women’s Rights Promotion and Development.
Hsiao said that while Taiwanese female NGO workers have been working hard to connect Taiwan with the rest of the world, they have been barred from attending UN-related events. Taiwan is not a UN member, and Taiwanese citizens have often been excluded from UN-related events due to pressure from China.
Hsiao said a level playing field for women will help make societies more resilient. She said that the success of Taiwan and New Zealand- two countries led by women- in keeping COVID-19 at bay is the best example.
US Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women’s Issues, Kelley Currie also gave a virtual keynote speech. Currie said she was impressed by President Tsai Ing-wen’s leadership, modesty, calmness, and sense of humor when she visited Taiwan last month.