In response to International Women's Day on March 8, the Taichung City Government launched the country’s first “Gender Equality Exercise Book” to introduce gender issues through true-false, multiple-choice, and matching tests. It will also hold the “Gender Equality Great Examination” and “Pass Through” activity at Taichung Park in the morning on March 6 together to promote Taichung City to become a gender-friendly city.

The Social Affairs Bureau of the City Government today (the 3th day for the month) held an advocacy press conference. The activity was rolled out with a drum performance and children's play. The City Government’s Secretary-General Huang Ching-Mao and Social Affairs Bureau Director Lu Chien-Te appeared in school uniforms and called on all social circles to implement gender equality.

“The course of Citizen Ethics and Morality was taken during my time as student, but there were no gender issues involved.” Secretary-General Huang stated that people inside and outside the country began to pay attention to gender equality education in the latest 10 years. Through activities such as gender equality exercise book and examination, more people were allowed to start thinking about this topic.

Social Affairs Bureau Director Lu Chien-Te noted that current gender equality policies were mostly to promote women's employment security, such as the One Stop Child Care Policy. It was hoped to reduce the burden of care so that women could find jobs and further work without worries, and Taichung City could be promoted to become a gender-friendly city.

The Taiwan Association of Read and Social Care Director Huang Jui-Ju stated that women in the U.S. have to work 4 months and 16 days more than men in order to get the same salary. In Taiwan, it is 2 months and 23 days, one day better than that last year. There is a long way to go to promote gender equality

The Social Affairs Bureau said further that the contents of the gender equality exercise book focused on the seven chapters of Gender Equality Policy Guidelines promulgated by the country in 2011 with the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) of UN and popular gender issues nowadays such as Note on Same-sex Couple Households. To encourage society to overcome gender stereotypes and discrimination in a vintage and childlike design.

The “Gender Great Examination” this year contained activities such as performances, prize drawing, pass through, DIY for Gender Equality Wen Chang Lantern, Gender Equality Q & A, and so on. The early online registration has been full, and the first 5 persons that successfully pass through on site can get NT$500 coupons. The information at a glance is provided on the Facebook fan page of “Taichung City Women's Interests and Gender-Friendly Policy Advocacy.” We welcome all to take up the challenge together.