Legislation supporting women’s reproductive autonomy submitted to Executive Yuan – Taipei Times

Report on Proposed Amendments to Taiwan’s Assisted Reproduction Act and Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

1.0 Introduction

The Health Promotion Administration has confirmed the submission of proposed amendments to the Assisted Reproduction Act to the Executive Yuan for review. Director-General Shen Ching-fen announced that the legislative changes are designed to enhance reproductive autonomy and expand access to assisted reproductive technologies. These amendments represent a significant national effort to align domestic policy with key United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those concerning health, gender equality, and reduced inequalities.

2.0 Core Objectives and Contribution to SDG 5: Gender Equality

The primary focus of the proposed amendments is the empowerment of women in their reproductive choices, a central tenet of SDG 5: Gender Equality. The key objectives include:

• Enhancing Women’s Autonomy: The legislation is centered on the principle that a woman with viable eggs and a uterus who wishes to conceive and give birth should receive governmental support. This directly supports SDG Target 5.6, which calls for ensuring universal access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights.
• Expanding Legal Access: The scope of the amendments is explicitly extended to include single and queer women, ensuring their right to form a family through assisted reproduction.

3.0 Addressing Inequalities in Line with SDG 10

By broadening the eligibility for assisted reproduction, the amendments directly address SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities. The initiative aims to dismantle discriminatory barriers based on marital status and sexual orientation.

1. Inclusion of Single Women: The proposal recognizes the reproductive rights of individuals irrespective of their marital status.
2. Support for Queer Couples: Following the legalization of same-sex marriage in 2019, this amendment provides a legal pathway for queer women to have children, further reducing systemic inequalities.

4.0 Upholding Health and Well-being (SDG 3) and Institutional Justice (SDG 16)

The framework of the amendments prioritizes the welfare of all individuals involved, reflecting a commitment to SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being, and strengthens legal institutions in line with SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions.

• Child-Centric Approach: Director-General Shen emphasized that the best interests of the future child are the core consideration of any birth plan. The provisions mandate a thorough assessment of both parties’ circumstances before proceeding with assisted reproduction.
• Protection of Rights: The importance of privacy, rights, and autonomy for all parties is a foundational principle of the proposed law.
• Legal Clarity: While the current amendments do not address surrogacy, which remains prohibited, they represent a step towards creating a more comprehensive and just legal framework for reproductive rights, moving away from the legal ambiguity surrounding overseas reproductive services.

Analysis of the Article in Relation to Sustainable Development Goals

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

  The article directly addresses public health by focusing on reproductive rights and access to assisted reproduction technologies. The proposed amendments to the “Assisted Reproduction Act” are a health policy initiative aimed at expanding healthcare services, which is a core component of SDG 3.

• SDG 5: Gender Equality

  This goal is central to the article. The proposed amendments specifically aim to enhance “women’s autonomy” and support “single and queer women.” By seeking to remove legal barriers based on marital status or sexual orientation, the initiative promotes gender equality and empowers women to make their own decisions about their reproductive health, a key aspect of SDG 5.

• SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

  The article discusses a legal reform process (“amendments…have been submitted to the Executive Yuan”) designed to create more inclusive and non-discriminatory laws. This effort to reform the “Assisted Reproduction Act” to ensure it is fair and provides equal access to all citizens reflects the aim of SDG 16 to build effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions at all levels.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• Target 3.7: Ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health-care services.

  The article’s main subject is the amendment of a law to broaden access to assisted reproduction. By proposing to extend these services to “single and queer women,” the government is taking a direct step toward ensuring more universal access to reproductive healthcare, as stipulated in this target.

• Target 5.6: Ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights.

  This target is explicitly addressed. The article states that the amendments focus on “women’s autonomy” and reproductive rights. The initiative is a direct attempt to legislate these rights for groups that may currently be excluded, thereby working towards the universal access mentioned in Target 5.6.

• Target 16.b: Promote and enforce non-discriminatory laws and policies for sustainable development.

  The proposed changes to the Assisted Reproduction Act are a clear example of promoting a non-discriminatory law. The current legal framework is implicitly discriminatory if it excludes single and queer women. The amendment seeks to rectify this, aligning perfectly with the goal of enforcing laws that ensure equality and non-discrimination.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Implied Indicator for Targets 3.7 and 5.6: Existence of laws and regulations guaranteeing equal access to reproductive healthcare.

  The article does not cite a specific statistical indicator, but the primary measure of progress implied is the legal framework itself. The very existence of the “proposed amendments to the Assisted Reproduction Act” and their review by the “Executive Yuan” serves as an indicator. The successful passage of these amendments would be a concrete measure of progress towards guaranteeing full and equal access to reproductive healthcare for all women, regardless of marital status or sexual orientation.

• Implied Indicator for Target 16.b: The promotion and enforcement of a non-discriminatory law.

  The indicator is the legislative action described in the article. The process of submitting, reviewing, and potentially passing the amendments is a direct measure of the government’s effort to “promote and enforce non-discriminatory laws.” The article also implies a qualitative indicator for implementation, stating that the provisions “require assessing both parties’ circumstances…to ensure that the arrangement can serve the best interests of the future child,” which points to the quality and fairness of the law’s application.

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: taipeitimes.com