TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's representative to Israel Lee Ya-ping (李雅萍) highlighted Taiwan's advancements in women's empowerment and gender equality in a speech at Ben Gurion University of The Negev on Monday (July 15).
Lee's speech resonated strongly with the university's faculty and students, sparking significant interest in Taiwan. Ben Gurion University, located in Israel's southern Negev region, is a key institution known for its research in green energy and biotechnology, and it maintains academic collaborations with Taiwan.
During her speech, Lee noted that Taiwan's concerted efforts by the government and citizens earned it the reputation of being Asia's beacon of democracy. She pointed out that Taiwan prioritizes human rights issues, with both the government and civil society tirelessly promoting gender equality and various human rights topics.
For example, according to the World Economic Forum's (WEF) 2023 Gender Gap Index, Taiwan ranks second in Asia and 34th globally in women's political and economic participation and health rights. Taiwan continues to share its successful experiences with value-aligned partners and assists allies like Eswatini and Belize in promoting women's entrepreneurship and capacity-building programs.
Lee encouraged Israel's young elites to visit Taiwan, make friends, and deepen their understanding of the country. The faculty and students at Ben Gurion University showed keen interest in geopolitical issues, Taiwan's political and economic development, and gender equality initiatives, expressing a desire to visit Taiwan for further studies.