2025 JRF Cup | Gender-Friendly Statement

This year marks the third iteration of the JRF Cup. Although JRF is still a newcomer to the debate arena, we are deeply admired by the thriving contemporary development of Taiwan's Oregon debate culture.

Regarding gender, we released the "2024 JRF Cup Gender-Friendly Statement" during our previous tournament, hoping to promote substantive equality of gender status, eliminate gender discrimination, and uphold personal dignity through the arrangement of gender-friendly measures throughout the event.

This year, we once again jointly issue the "2025 JRF Cup Gender-Friendly Statement" with the organizers, the Chinese Debate Promotion Association (CDPA) and the Taichung Municipal Taichung Girls' Senior High School Debate Club, as follows:

2025 JRF Cup Gender-Friendly Statement

1. Judges invited to this tournament shall strictly adhere to gender-friendly principles regarding, but not limited to, the following matters:

(1) For preliminary, quarterfinal, and semifinal rounds, out of the 3 judge seats per match, at least 1 seat shall be held by a judge of any gender; for the final round, out of the 5 judge seats, at least 2 seats shall be held by judges of any gender.

(2) Disqualifications for judges:

1. Individuals under the following circumstances shall not serve as judges:
   1. Those whose cases have been formally investigated or substantiated by relevant committees established pursuant to the Gender Equality Education Act, the Gender Equality in Employment Act, the Sexual Harassment Prevention Act, and gender equality regulations of various schools or workplaces.
   2. Those involved in sex- and gender-related cases who have been investigated or prosecuted by a prosecutor, or convicted by a final court judgment.
   3. Others recognized by the tournament committee as having inappropriate speech or conduct related to sex or gender.
2. If any of the circumstances in the preceding paragraph occur after the announcement of the list of judges and before the commencement of the tournament, the tournament committee shall replace the judge.

2. To establish a debating environment conducive to the survival of debaters with diverse characteristics, participants in this tournament are not required to wear uniforms, provided their attire is neat. We urge the team leaders and instructors of all schools to ensure that all attendees abide by gender-friendly and non-discriminatory principles regarding regulations on competitors' trousers, skirts, shoes, and other clothing and grooming accessories.

3. In view of past experiences of sex and gender discrimination, harassment, and violence, although the tournament committee does not provide accommodation, we urge school team leaders and instructors to fully communicate, respect competitors' wishes, consider the needs of diverse genders, and seek resources and protection to provide spatial separation when arranging accommodation environments, thereby minimizing personal safety concerns as much as possible. Competitors shall respect each other's physical and verbal boundaries during their stay and comply with relevant gender equality laws and regulations.

4. Responding to the menstrual equity movement, the tournament committee will set up a supply box for menstrual products, which competitors in need are welcome to take as needed. Please refer to the program booklet for the location of the supplies.

5. Grievances and Remedies:

(1) Given that instructional resources in the debate circle have always been scarce and intertwined with disadvantaged conditions such as gender and geographical location, which exacerbates the structural plight faced by victims seeking help when sex and gender discrimination, harassment, and violence occur, we urge teachers, senior alumni, and mentors of all schools to actively take immediate and effective corrective and remedial measures upon receiving or hearing about any incidents of sex and gender discrimination, harassment, and violence.

(2) A "Written Statement Prohibiting Workplace Sexual Harassment" will be posted on-site at the tournament. If any sexual harassment incidents occur during the tournament, the tournament committee will comply with the "Taiwan Association for Human Rights / Judicial Reform Foundation Workplace Sexual Harassment Prevention Measures, Grievance and Handling Guidelines" and the "Judicial Reform Foundation Sexual Harassment Prevention Grievance, Investigation and Handling Guidelines" along with related laws and regulations.

(3) The grievance channels for this tournament are as follows: Grievance Hotline: Executive Director Chang Hua-che 0932-725-962 or CDPA Secretary Wu Chia-jung 0921-238-140; Grievance Email: helpme@jrf.org.tw.

6. Recognizing that overcoming the plight of sex and gender discrimination, harassment, and violence requires continuous efforts to enrich resources both inside and outside student associations, and to encourage all schools participating in the JRF Cup to establish their own gender-friendly policies and gender equality guidelines, any debate club from schools participating in the JRF Cup that has needs for gender-related educational training or regulatory reviews within half a year after the conclusion of the tournament may contact JRF directly. JRF will provide direct assistance or match relevant resources.

7. The content of this statement heavily references the collective shared experiences of female competitors facing gender differential treatment as documented in the 2003 report released by the "Debate and Gender" team. To encourage all schools to continue discussions through club classes and holding competitions using these topics, thereby taking joint action to build a gender-friendly debate circle, the tournament committee will also print physical copies of the report to provide to competitors from all schools for reference and reading.