N China's Inner Mongolia Witnesses Great Achievements in Women's Cause

North China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region has made many achievements in promoting women's development over the last 40 years since China's reform and opening-up policy was introduced, according to a recent media profile.

Under the leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC), the wellbeing and development of women and children has been continuously promoted with the concerted efforts of the whole society.

Welfare for women and children has drastically improved under the protection of new regulations and laws.

Meanwhile, gender equality has been promoted as a basic State policy, and officials are constantly carrying out national plans and programs to promote women and children's development.

Over the last four decades, women have shouldered their responsibilities and exerted great influence in the development of economy and society in Inner Mongolia by taking the initiative in comprehensive construction.

Women's federations also saw great amount of reform during this period.

Chasing Dreams

Many local women from Inner Mongolia have exerted their strength in society.

For example, in February 1996, at the eighth inter-government negotiating conference of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification held in Geneva, Wang Guoxiang from Inner Mongolia delivered a speech.

Wang, born on the edge of the Kubuqi Desert, was the only representative of a non-government organization from China, who has won a great show of respect and acclaim among the international participants for her work in promoting afforestation.

In May 2015, Xing Caixia, head nurse of Inner Mongolia People's Hospital, won the 45th Nightingale Award, the highest honor for international nursing and became the first woman in Inner Mongolia to receive the prize.

Such cases are not rare.

In recent 40 years, the majority of local women have taken responsibility and spared no effort in the practice of developing Inner Mongolia.

Many outstanding individuals stand out in various fields.

In recent 40 years, theme education activities, patriotic inspirational lectures and film and TV dramas broadcast have been organized among local women.

In return, the activities can promote the decision-making and deployment of Party committees and governments, issue good opinions, spread positive energy, and lead the majority of women to listen to the Party and follow the Party.

Women's rights are basic human rights. In the past 40 years, the regional government has done many great things in safeguarding the rights and interests of women and children, and the well-being of women and children has been continuously enhanced.

The enactment of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region Regulations on Preventing and Stopping Domestic Violence and other laws and regulations has made Inner Mongolia the first ethnic autonomous region to incorporate prevention and suppression of domestic violence into the legal system.

The gender equality assessment mechanism related to local policy and regulations has contributed to the protection of rights. 

Since 2003, the implementation of two rounds of development programs for women and children has effectively promoted the carrying out of basic national policy of gender equality, the safety of women and children as well as the protection and development of the environment.

Furthermore, much has been accomplished in terms of guaranteeing the health of women and children.

The maternal mortality rate in the region has dropped to 15.6 per 100,000 people, which is 132.1 per 100,000 lower than that in 1990. The gross enrollment rate in kindergarten has reached 90.82 percent, an increase of 55.82 percentage points over the year of 2000.

Likewise, progress has also been made in terms of access to education as well as in women's participation in politics.

Women's representatives of the 13th regional people's congress accounted for 28.6 percent, an increase of 1.04 percent over the previous session.

In addition, the infrastructure construction in the farming and rural areas has been continuously improved, and pensions, medical care and housing are all guaranteed.

Besides the guarantee of policy and laws, there is much considerate care for women. Inner Mongolia has established over 150 courts prioritizing protection of women and children's rights.

Moreover, 27,000 volunteers have taken part in rights protection.

Entrepreneurship

Nowadays, poverty alleviation is at a critical point and women's federations have been dedicated to encouraging women to shake off poverty with their own strength, and stride towards happiness.

For instance, training sessions of handicrafts, domestic service, agricultural and animal husbandry practical techniques are now provided by the women's federations to improve local women's ability to earn money.

For years, Inner Mongolia has attached great importance to women's entrepreneurship and employment, making every effort to promote opportunities for women to lead a good life.

From 2009-2016, women's federations at all levels have accumulatively issued low-interest subsidies for women's entrepreneurship at a total of 6.323 billion yuan (US$ 0.92 billion). They also focused on supporting women in rural areas, among urban unemployed women, and female college students, and a total of 116,000 women have benefited.

Furthermore, township women's federations organized regional reform to break the boundaries of administrative barriers and divisions, and strengthened the grassroots work forces to form women's federations.

Meanwhile, the working of building online women's federation has been fruitful.

The publicity communication index related to the WeChat social media account established by Inner Mongolia Women's Federation has consistently ranked in the forefront of provincial-level women's federation systems and regional government systems.

In summary, all the achievements can be attributed to the 40 years' persistent efforts and hard work.

In the future, Inner Mongolia will continue to follow Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era and stick to the road to the development of women with Chinese characteristics in order to make greater achievements and break new ground.

(Source: People.cn/Translated and edited by Women of China)