Forum Celebrates 20th Anniv. of 'Beijing Platform for Action'

Meng Xiaosi, vice-president and member of the Secretariat of the All-China Women's Federation [Provided by Beijing Women's Federation]

A forum on women's development and social progress, held by Beijing Women's Federation on July 30, has jump-started a series of new activities marking the 20th anniversary of the 4th World Conference on Women.

The historic United Nations-sponsored conference that took place 20 years ago saw China and other countries adopt two milestone documents, the Beijing Declaration and the Beijing Platform for Action.

At the China National Convention Center, Julie Broussard, Country Program Manager of UN Women China, commended the international community and women's organizations including the All-China Women's Federation (ACWF) for persistently working towards gender equality and women empowerment. She called on everyone to do their part in furthering the cause of gender equality and female empowerment so that later generations could benefit.

Zou Xiaoqiao, former director general of the International Liaison Department of the ACWF and member of the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), reviewed her experiences of the past conference, saying that "the adoption of the Beijing Declaration and the Beijing Platform for Action has made a significant and far-reaching impact on promoting gender equality, women's development and the sustainable development of mankind."

"At this critical moment of commemorating the 20th anniversary of the 4th World Conference on Women in 1995, it is necessary for us to revisit the goals and rebuild the consensus while sorting out the problems, examining our gains and failures, breaking through bottlenecks and having a new start," said Li Mingshun, vice president and professor of China Women's University.

Meng Xiaosi, vice-president and member of the Secretariat of the ACWF, and Cheng Hong, vice-mayor of the Beijing Municipal Government, together with other officials, attended the forum.

Meanwhile, an exhibition marking the 20th anniversary of the conference was held locally. Consisting of three parts, including "Memories of 1995", "Figures Showing the Development" and "Pictures Showing Change", the displays showcase the remarkable achievements made by local women from the capital in politics, economy, education, health and legal protection.

According to a plan by the ACWF, Beijing Women's Federation started to organize activities marking the 20th anniversary around International Women's Day (March 8) earlier this year.
Upcoming efforts including an assessment on the city's implementation of the rules regarding the Law of China on the Protection of Rights and Interests of Women, and the completion of a guideline for the evaluation of the impact of gender-based policies and rules, which will serve to bring the commemorations to a culmination.

Meng Xiaosi (Front), vice-president and member of the Secretariat of the All-China Women's Federation, visits the exhibition. [Provided by Beijing Women's Federation]

Ma Lanxia, president of Beijing Women's Federation gives a speech at the forum.  [Provided by Beijing Women's Federation]

Participants at the Forum [Provided by Beijing Women's Federation]

At the Forum on Women's Development and Social Progress [Provided by Beijing Women's Federation]

(Women of China)