“Analyzing the 2024 Presidential Candidates’ Stances on Gender, Human Rights, and Migrant Worker Policies in Taiwan”

### Making an Informed Choice in the 2024 Presidential Election: A Deep Dive into Candidates’ Stances on Gender, Personal Information, and Human Rights

As the 2024 presidential election approaches on January 13, with over 19.31 million people across the nation ready to cast their votes, the electorate faces a crucial decision amidst a whirlwind of political speeches, debates, and information on election offenses and defenses. With three political speeches by presidential candidates, one by a vice presidential candidate, and one TV debate each for presidential and vice presidential candidates already conducted, the question remains: How should voters make an informed choice with their vote?

To aid in this decision-making process, “The Reporter” has collaborated with NGOs, scholars, and experts from various fields to propose “20 questions on presidential politics.” This initiative aims to shed light on the key political views of the three presidential candidates: Ke Wenzhe of the People’s Party, Lai Qingde of the Democratic Progressive Party, and Hou Youyi of the Kuomintang, based on their written responses to these questions.

This blog post focuses on the chapter concerning gender, personal information, and human rights, offering insights into the candidates’ stances on these critical issues. It is part of a series that also covers cross-strait diplomacy and national defense, energy, housing, finance and taxation, and education, labor, social welfare, and health care, providing a comprehensive overview for voters.

#### Gender Politics and Attitudes

Taiwan, being the first country in Asia to legalize gay marriage, has seen its presidential candidates incorporate gender diversity into their national vision. The Lai camp’s proposal to include gender identity/sexual orientation survey items in the national census and amend the Artificial Reproduction Law stands out as a highlight. The Ke camp focuses on praising companies that implement gender equality and addressing issues related to surrogate mothers in artificial reproduction. Meanwhile, the Hou camp emphasizes the rights to social welfare long-term care for victims of intimate violence and multiple genders.

However, when it comes to narrowing the gender pay gap, the responses vary. The Hou camp suggests education as a solution, though its effectiveness is questioned. Both the Ke and Lai camps advocate for “Salary Transparency,” with Lai proposing a bonus point mechanism for company evaluation as a measure already in place.

#### Personal Data Protection

As Taiwan prepares to establish a dedicated agency for personal data protection, the candidates’ focus diverges. Lai emphasizes the supervision of non-public entities, Hou highlights the need for immediate relief when personal information is abused, and Ke stresses the protection of corporate personal information. Yet, all lack detailed descriptions and plans, underscoring the need for a more comprehensive approach to personal data protection.

#### Migrant Workers and Immigration Policies

With reports of inappropriate treatment of migrant workers in Taiwan, the candidates’ stances on migrant worker policies reveal varying levels of completeness and understanding. The Lai camp’s policy is seen as the most comprehensive but lacks new initiatives, while the Ke and Hou camps provide vague and brief answers that fail to grasp the reality of migrant worker issues.

Regarding the rights of marriage immigrants, all three camps focus on expanding the “retention of migrant workers” policy without addressing the substantive rights and interests of permanent residence, welfare rights, and participation rights, maintaining an outdated view of treating “migrant workers as guest workers.”

#### Conclusion

As voters prepare to make their choice in the 2024 presidential election, understanding the candidates’ positions on gender, personal information, and human rights is crucial. This analysis, based on the “20 questions on presidential politics,” offers valuable insights into each candidate’s vision and policies, helping voters make an informed decision. For those interested in other policy areas, further reading on cross-strait diplomacy and national defense, energy, housing, finance and taxation, and education, labor, social welfare, and health care is recommended.

The upcoming election presents an opportunity for voters to shape Taiwan’s future based on a comprehensive understanding of the candidates’ policies and visions. As such, it is essential to consider these factors carefully before casting your vote.