呂秀蓮的部落格

國際職業婦女協會（Business and Professional Women, BPW）每週都會在官方網站上介紹一位來自不同國家分會的傑出婦女。國際職業婦女協會世界總會長伊麗莎白‧賓漢（Elizabeth Benham）今年5月24日訪台，認為呂前副總統的不平凡經歷非常值得分享給所有會員。在第51週於BPW網站特別介紹呂前副總統。

「世界總會長伊麗莎白說：

Annette Hsiu-lien Lu is a truly remarkable woman who has devoted her life to women’s issues despite many personal challenges. She is an inspiration to all BPW members by truly living “The Power to Make a Difference”

（呂秀蓮是一位真正擁有卓越成就的女性。不論遭遇多大的困難及挑戰，她依然堅持致力於改善台灣婦女權益與地位。她將女性「改變世界的力量」納入生活，是所有BPW會員的典範。）」

 

以下是官方網站的全文：

 WOMEN OF THE WEEK

Woman of the Week (51)

Who is Annette Hsiu-lien Lu?

Annette Hsiu-lien Lu is the President of BPW Taiwan.

A Federation with 6 clubs and a long standing history in BPW International.

I had the great pleasure and honor to be with President Lu on my recent visit in May to Taiwan where I experienced the warm hospitality of BPW members and her visionary leadership.

Annette Hsiu-lien Lu is a truly remarkable woman who has devoted her life to women’s issues despite many personal challenges. She is an inspiration to all BPW members by truly living “The Power to Make a Difference”

（呂秀蓮是一位真正擁有卓越成就的女性。不論遭遇多大的困難及挑戰，她依然堅持致力於改善台灣婦女權益與地位上。她將女性「改變世界的力量」納入生活，是所有BPW會員的典範。）

Liz Benham, International President （莉絲‧賓漢，BPW世界總會長）

 

Lu Hsiu-lien Annette was born on June 7, 1944 in Taoyuan, Taiwan. After graduating from the National Taiwan University College of Law, she received a master’s degree in comparative law from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1971 and a master of laws degree from Harvard University in 1978. Later, she spent another 3 years at Harvard as a Research Fellow.

In the 1970s, Lu started the Feminist Movement in Taiwan, her efforts included “Pioneer Publishing House” and a “Protect You Hot-Line Service.”

In 1979, Lu delivered a 20 minute speech at the International Human Rights Day Rally in Kaohsiung City in which she criticized Taiwan’s authoritarian government. This speech led to her arrest on the charge of sedition, for which she was sentenced to 12 years in prison along with other leading freedom fighters. In 1985, after spending almost six years in prison, Lu was granted medical parole for thyroid cancer.

Upon her release, Lu did not stay quiet for long. Instead, she continued to campaign for women’s rights, democracy, and international recognition for her country. In 1993, she founded the Taiwan International Alliance to promote Taiwan’s bid for membership in the United Nations and won a seat in the Legislative Yuan, where she served as co-chair of the legislature’s Foreign Relations Committee. While in office, she continued to promote women’s rights, organizing and hosting the Global Summit of Women in 1994 and the Feminist Summit for Global Peace in 1995.

In the following years, Lu’s presence on Taiwan’s political scene grew. In 1996, then-president Lee Teng-hui appointed her national policy advisor. In 1997, she became the first female magistrate of Taoyuan County, subsequently winning reelection. On March 18, 2000, she was elected Taiwan’s tenth vice president, thus becoming the first female vice president in Taiwan’s history. She won reelection in 2004, and, during her eight years in office, made the promotion of gender equality and social justice her top priorities.

Lu’s efforts received international recognition in 2001, when she became the first woman to receive the World Peace Corps Mission’s World Peace Prize. A few years later in 2005, for the purpose to promote her advocacy of “soft power,” she founded the Democratic Pacific Union, an international organization committed to enhancing cooperation among the democratic governments of the Pacific region. BPW Taiwan Federation is her new endeavor.