Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) in 2012, the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has set out plans for women's work in the new era, put forward a series of new concepts, viewpoints and requirements, and guided women's cause to make historic achievements and undergo great changes.

Over the past decade, China has made steady progress in women's cause.

Over the past decade, the policies and decisions made by the CPC Central Committee has been of great and far-reaching significance to promote the country's gender equality and create a new path for the development of the women's cause.

Institutional Guarantee Is Stronger

Adhering to the fundamental national policy of gender equality and the protection of the legitimate rights and interests of women and minors was included into the reports to the 18th and 19th CPC national congresses.

Strengthening the building of family, family education and family traditions and better protecting the rights and interests of women and children was included into the Resolution of the CPC Central Committee on the Major Achievements and Historical Experience of the Party over the Past Century which was adopted at the Sixth Plenary Session of the 19th CPC Central Committee in November 2021.

The country's 13th Five-Year Plan and 14th Five-Year Plan made specific arrangements for promoting women and children's development in an independent chapter.

The 14th Five-Year Plan set up a special chapter to strengthen family building, coordinating women and children's cause and family building with economic and social development.

Development Plan Is More Comprehensive

The China National Program for Women's Development (2021-2030) [the NPA for women (2021-2030)] and China National Program for Child Development (2021-2030) were promulgated in September 2021 on the basis that the major objectives of the China National Program for Women's Development (2011-2020) and China National Program for Child Development (2011-2020) were achieved as planned.

The NPA for women (2021-2030) proposed 75 major objectives, and 93 measures in eight areas, setting goals and tasks for women's development in the next decade.

The Legal System Has Been Improved

The implementation of the Anti-domestic Violence Law has helped safeguard women's safety.

The Criminal Law has been amended many times to strengthen the protection of women.

Mechanism for evaluating gender equality implications in laws, regulations and policies has been established in 31 provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions, providing a solid foundation for gender equality and women's development from the source.

Thanks to the policies and decisions made by the CPC and the central government, China has made noticeable achievements in women's development.

Women's health condition has been significantly improved. In 2021, the maternal mortality rate in China decreased to 16.1 per 100,000, making China one of the leading countries among middle and high-income countries in terms of the core indicator of maternal and infant health. Women's average life expectancy increased to 80.88 years.

Women have received much better education. In 2020, the average years of schooling for Chinese people aged 15 and above were 9.91 years, and the average years of schooling for Chinese women were 9.59. The gender gap in compulsory education has been basically eliminated. The proportion of women students in junior colleges and universities reached over 50 percent.

Women are better protected by the social security system. In 2020, over 600 million women were covered by basic health insurance. Women accounted for about half of the nearly 100 million people lifted out of poverty.

Women have extensively taken part in economic development. The proportion of women in the total employed population is over 40 percent. About 55 percent of new Internet businesses are being founded by women. In 2021, the proportion of women in the country's scientific and technological workers was nearly 45.8 percent.

Significant improvements have been seen in women's participation in decision-making and management. Women deputies to the 13th National People's Congress (NPC) account for 24.9 percent, making it the NPC with the highest proportion of women deputies in history; similarly, women members of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) account for 20.4 percent, also making it the CPPCC with the highest proportion of women members in history. The proportion of women members in residents' committees remains at about 50 percent.

Over the past decade, Chinese women have enjoyed equal rights in a better way in the aspects of politics, economy, culture, society and family life.

Over the past decade, Chinese women have kept pace with the times, forged ahead with the motherland, and made contributions to various undertakings of the Party and the country.

Skilled women have led villagers in raising their incomes and contributing to rural revitalization. Women scientific and technological workers have focused on scientific research, tackled scientific and technological problems and made efforts to achieve scientific and technological breakthroughs. Many women have risen to the challenges and joined the fight against COVID-19, and many have participated in widespread entrepreneurship and innovation and have demonstrated their spirit of self-confidence and self-improvement … Outstanding women from all walks of life have shouldered their responsibilities and made contributions to economic and social development.

Women's federations across the country have carried out extensive activities of encouraging women to make achievements at their posts, including Women's Action for Poverty Alleviation, Women's Action for Rural Vitalization and Women's Action for Scientific and Technological Innovation, to help women realize their full potential.

Over the past decade, the All-China Women's Federation (ACWF) entitled around 4,000 individuals with the title of the National March 8th Red-banner Holder, more than 2,000 groups with the title of the National March 8th Red-banner Collective, and over 5,000 individuals with the title of the National Women Pacesetters for Achievements.

The women role models include: Tu Youyou, a scientist and winner of the 2015 Nobel Prize in physiology for medicine "for discoveries concerning a novel therapy against malaria," who has devoted more than 40 years of her life to conducting medical research and promoting traditional Chinese medicine; Liu Yang, China's first woman taikonaut who served as a crew member on the Shenzhou-9 in 2012 and is now carrying out the Shenzhou-14 spaceflight mission; Zhang Guimei, principal of Huaping Senior High School for Girls in Lijiang City, in southwest China's Yunnan Province, who has helped nearly 2,000 impoverished girls receive an education at the school and continue their studies at universities and colleges; and Huang Wenxiu, late first secretary of Baini Village, Leye County, Baise City, in South China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, who turned down job opportunities in big cities and returned to her hometown where she devoted herself to poverty relief work and died fighting poverty on the front line.

These women role models have set an example for many women and motivated women to actively devote themselves to the great cause and embark on a new journey with diligence and wisdom.

Over the past decade, the women's federations have constantly deepened their reform and promoted the high-quality development of their work.

Currently, there are over one million women's organizations and 700,000 women's homes across the country. Women's organizations at the grassroots level have given full play to their role of serving as the bridge and bond between the Party and government and the women, and guided women to play an important role in social governance based on collaboration, participation and common gains.

Over the past decade, women's federations have strengthened the building of family civilization and the implementation of family education guidance services, taken innovative approaches in organizing activities of looking for the most beautiful families, guided women to mobilize their family members to build role model families, develop good family education and cultivate good family traditions, as well as promoted core socialist values to take root in families.

China has signed and approved relevant international conventions and documents on gender equality endorsed by the United Nations (UN), made all-out efforts to promote progress in gender equality and women's development, and attached great importance to international exchanges in women's affairs.

Since 2015, the ACWF has trained over 2,000 women cadres from more than 100 countries. The women's federations have conducted a series of bilateral and multilateral exchange activities among women since the 18th CPC National Congress, greatly enhancing the international influence of Chinese women and women's organizations.

China has made solid and remarkable achievements in women's cause over the past 10 years. Under the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, China women's cause will surely open up a new chapter in the near future.

(Source: Xinhua and China Women's News/Translated and edited by Women of China)