R42 | Proposer: Green Party Taiwan
Global Greens should acknowledge
(1) that women’s political participation is one of the slowest progressing dimensions of gender equality in most countries, which varies largely according to each nation’s democratic development.
(2) that Violence Against Women in Politics, classified into psychological, economic, sexual, physical and internet violence, still persists in progressive parties such as the Green Party because gender issues are often stemming from cultural norms which are unconsciously internalised. Formal equality fails to address disparities in resources and power.
(3) that micro-aggression and micro-insults have witnessed a substantial surge in various aspects of life such as workplace and familial relationships.
(4) that the victims/survivors and suspects/perpetrators of sexual violence are particularly susceptible to stigmatization. Therefore, it is crucial to implement mechanisms that protect the privacy and safety of both parties involved, along with impartial investigations. And the goal is to find gender justice for the vulnerable.
To conclude, Global Greens commit to
Background
Today in many of the communities considered to be more progressive, overt and blatant gender discrimination and sexual harassment have ostensibly decreased.
In fact, many of them have been replaced by micro-aggressions and micro-insults.
Sexual or gender-based misconduct is now carried out in a more subtle and euphemistic manner, making it difficult for people to identify and counteract them, and they continue to pose challenges to women’s political participation. At the same time, typical sexual or gender-based misconduct is still often seen in our daily lives.
In Taiwan, starting from May 31st, a victim came forward, revealing her encounter with sexual harassment by a contracted film director while working for one of the two major parties. Her supervisor doubted her claims and failed to follow proper protocols. This led to an increasing number of victims speaking out about their experiences, extending beyond politics into social movements, arts, literature, and education. Unlike the limited attention to the global #metoo movement in Taiwan in 2017, recent events have sparked a significant shift. Taiwanese media now refers to the past few days as Taiwan’s ’Me Too’ moment, as more people are encouraged to share stories of sexual harassment and abuse by those in power. Even at this point in time, more and more people in Taiwan are speaking out about their experiences with gender-based misconduct.
The adopted resolution at the 6th European Green Party Congress in Copenhagen, titled ”On women’s rights, gender, and climate change in Europe,” highlights the increased vulnerability of women to the adverse effects of climate change and environmental disasters. It emphasizes that empowering women leads to their active involvement in environmentally beneficial actions. The resolution acknowledges the significance of diversity and intersectionality within the Gender Equality Strategy 2020-2025, which encompasses key actions such as addressing gender-based violence and stereotypes, ensuring equal opportunities in the labor market, and achieving gender balance in policy and decision-making. It stresses that unless gender equality is explicitly integrated into policies, programs, and projects, the persisting gender inequalities rooted in societal norms, practices, and institutions will endure.