Reply and Recommendation of Taiwan Tongzhi Hotline Association to the list of issues on ICESCR
社團法人台灣同志諮詢熱線協會對經社文公約問題清單之回應與建議

Article:

Article 3, ICESCR
(No. 15, List of Issues ROC State Report on ICESCR)

Comment and Recommendation(Chinese)
1.      經社文公約第三條是確保基於性別的平等權利。在此題問題，特別指的是跨性別跟雙性人族群的性別認同。國家應該採取適當措施以確立其平等權，與對抗施加於跨性別及雙性人族群的歧視。
2.      誠如台灣同志諮詢熱線協會（簡稱熱線）於對話申請表編號29號（經社文公約初次報告審查會議與委員對話申請表編號29號）提及，跨性別及雙性人族群在台灣社會面臨許多困境與歧視。他們的經濟、社會與文化權利，如工作權、社會安全、人類安全與健康權並未被國家保障。再者，由於缺乏司法保障，在大多數案件上，他們的權利被個人、私人機構及國家侵犯。
3.      熱線必須指出，基於台灣政府對於此議題的答覆（見回應編號16號，委員會審查中華民國(臺灣)初次報告所考慮的問題清單中華民國(臺灣)對問題清單的回應）台灣政府並沒有對於「性別認同」此概念的知識跟了解。台灣政府對於「性別傾向」與「性別認同」產生混淆跟誤解。在政府回應上「性別認同」完全沒有被提及，而這根本沒有正確回應到此提問的議題。當國家對於性傾向及性別認同間的差別有所誤解，不知道誰是跨性別及雙性人族群，國家不可能滿足此族群特殊的需求，與提供適當的保護措施。
4.      鑒於跨性別及雙性人族群在台灣社會目前的現況，為確保該族群的平等權，熱線作出建議如下：
(1)     性別主流化概念應包含性傾向、性別認同及其他性少數。
(2)     促進與保障跨性別及雙性人權利：國家應擔任積極角色以促進與保障跨性別及雙性人在不同層級（個人、私人機構與國家）上的權利。
(3)     工作權：《就業服務法》與《性別工作平等法》的反歧視條款應納入「性別認同」。（《就業服務法》第五條，與《性別工作平等法》第六條第一項，第七條至第十一條。）
(4)     教育權：《性別平等教育法》的反歧視條款應加入「性別認同」。
(5)  教育：國家應在學校、社區、私人機構與政府等不同層級，教育一般大眾對於跨性別及雙性人的正確認知。
Comment and Recommendation(English)
1.      The Art. 3 (ICESCR) is to ensure the right of equality based on gender. In this issue, it especially refers to gender identity among transgender and intersex people.  State shall take appropriate measures to secure equal rights and against discrimination toward transgender and intersex people.
2.      As Taiwan Tongzhi Hotline Association (Hotline, TTHA) has mentioned in the application No. 29 (List of Application for Dialogue with the Review Committee For the Taiwan’s Initial Report under the ICESCR), transgender and intersex people are facing many difficulties and discriminated by Taiwan society. Their economic, social and culture rights, such as right to work, social security, human security, and right to health are not ensured by the State. Furthermore, without legal protection, their rights are violated by individuals, private sectors and the State in most cases.
3.      Hotline has to point it out that Taiwan government has no knowledge, understanding about concept of “gender identity” according to the reply by Taiwan government. (See, No. 16 List of Issues to be taken up in connection with the Consideration of the initial report of Republic of China (Taiwan) Replies of Republic of China (Taiwan) to the list of issues) Taiwan government is confused and misunderstood between “sexual orientation” and “gender identity”. In the reply, “gender identity” was not mentioned in any place which did not respond correctly to the list of issues at all. It is impossible for the State to satisfy special needs and provide suitable protections for transgender and intersex people in Taiwan, when the State has misunderstanding about differences between sexual orientation and gender identity, and who transgender and intersex people really are.
4.      To ensure equal rights for transgender and intersex people based on their current situation in Taiwan, recommendations made by Hotline as following:
(1)   Concept of gender mainstream shall include sexual orientation, gender identity and other gender minorities.
(2)   Promote and Protect Transgender and Intersex People’s Rights: State shall take active role to promote and protect transgender and intersex’s people’s rights in different levels including individuals, private sectors and government.
(3)   Right to Work: Employment of Service Act and The Act of Gender Equality in Employment shall be revised to include gender identity in anit-discrimination articles. (Art. 5, Employment of Service Act and Art. 6(1), Art. 7-11, The Act of Gender Equality)
(4)   Rights on Education: Anti-discrimination articles of Gender Equity Education shall include gender identity.
(5)  Educate: To educate public correct knowledge and understanding about transgender and intersex people in schools, social communities, private sectors and government.