There are approximately 800,000 foreign workers in Taiwan, with nearly half being women who often face the challenge of pregnancy and childbirth while working abroad. To raise awareness about their situations and related legal rights, the Taoyuan’s Serve the People Association (SPA) and the German Institute Taipei have launched the “Women no cry” exhibition featuring migrant mothers’ life stories.
The exhibition officially opened on Thursday with a press conference including Rini, one of the migrant workers whose story is featured in the collection. The event also screened “When Planes Fly By,” a documentary produced by Golden Horse Award-winning director Tsung-lung Tsai (蔡崇隆). The film depicts daily life in migrant worker shelters and the challenges of raising children in a foreign land.
Deputy Director of the German Institute Taipei Andreas Hofem emphasized their commitment to contributing to Taiwanese society, particularly regarding migrant women's rights. He stated that while Taiwan faces challenges in this area, the society that benefits from migrant workers' contributions should ensure their acceptance and basic dignity.
Director of the Department of Policies at SPA Lennon Ying-Da Wang (汪英達) says that their organization has helped over 1,000 migrant workers through three shelters serving Indonesian, Vietnamese, and Filipino workers over the past decade. The exhibition is currently running at the Songshan Cultural and Creative Park and will be open until December 23. It aims to humanize the experiences of migrant mothers and advocate for better legal protection for them and their children.