Taipei, Aug. 16 (CNA) President Chen Shui-bian said Saturday that he hopes the first group of female graduates from the Ketagalan Institute, an academy run by the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), will become reform pioneers in Taiwan.
Chen made the remarks at the graduation ceremony of the first group of women leaders to graduate from the Ketagalan Institute. The aim of the institute, established in April this year, is to cultivate future leaders of the country.
Addressing the ceremony, Chen told the women graduates that the level of a country's gender equality is an indicator of how developed a country is.
Chen noted that in the male-dominated Taiwan society of the past, women were asked to take care of family affairs and were discouraged from getting involved in public affairs, and without knowing it, were deprived of the opportunity to strive for their rights. He stressed that once given a fair chance and equal footing, women can perform as well as men.
Chen urged the female graduates to join hands in reforming society.