Lasting Memories

People sign their wishes during the Fourth World Conference on Women in 1995 in Beijing. [Women of China]

Beijing hosted the United Nations' Fourth World Conference on Women on September 4-15, 1995. The Beijing Declaration and the Beijing Platform for Action (BPFA), adopted during the conference, became the blueprints for women's empowerment, and the key global policy documents on gender equality. During the conference, China declared gender equality was a basic State policy. During the past 20 years, China has implemented BPFA and the basic State policy of gender equality, and China has made great achievements in promoting gender equality, protecting women's rights and interests, enhancing women's status and boosting women's development.

The Fourth World Conference on Women

The United Nations has organized four world conferences on women; the first was held in Mexico City, in 1975; the second in Copenhagen, in 1980; the third in Nairobi, in 1985; and the most recent, in Beijing, in 1995. The Fourth World Conference on Women was the largest conference ever organized by the UN. In all, 17,000 participants, including 6,000 delegates (who represented 189 governments), more than 4,000 representatives of nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and nearly 4,000 journalists, attended.

The conference was a significant turning point in the global agenda for gender equality and women's empowerment. It generated unprecedented political energy, and it resulted in tremendous social mobilization around the world. Governments, civil society and others used the conference as inspiration to take steps to end inequality and discrimination.

Gender Equality 

China has a population of approximately 1.3 billion, of whom 663 million are women. Since 1949, when the People's Republic of China was established, China has attached great importance to women's development and gender equality.

Since 1995, when China declared gender equality was a basic State policy, China has promulgated and implemented the Program for the Development of Chinese Women (1995-2000), the Program for the Development of Chinese Women (2001-2010) and the Program for the Development of Chinese Women (2011-2020).

In 2005, the Law of the People's Republic of China on the Protection of Rights and Interests of Women was amended to entrench gender equality as a basic State policy in law. In 2012, the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) underscored, yet again, that gender equality was a basic State policy, and that China was committed to protecting the legitimate rights and interests of women.

The basic State policy of gender equality has become the legal basis and fundamental guideline in China's efforts to eliminate discrimination against women, and to promote women's development and gender equality.

When he met the leadership of the All-China Women's Federation (ACWF) on October 31, 2013, Chinese President Xi Jinping underlined the importance of gender equality. Xi said China had attached great importance to gender equality during different periods in the country's development. He said the promotion of gender equality must be integrated into the process of the country's development, to ensure women could exercise their democratic rights in accordance with the law, participate in economic and social development and share the benefits of the country's reform.

Reviews

Since 1995, there have been several five-year reviews to monitor BPFA's implementation. On May 11, 2000, some 2,000 women from around the world attended the "Beijing+5" meeting (held in Beijing) to mark the fifth anniversary of the conference. Between 1995 and 2000, China scored remarkable achievements in promoting gender equality and women's development by implementing BPFA and the Program for the Development of Chinese Women (1995-2000).

During that meeting, then-State Councilor Wu Yi delivered a report, which reviewed China's achievements in implementing BPFA and the Program for the Development of Chinese Women (1995-2000). She noted that more Chinese women had gotten involved in the government's management and decision-making, that women had received more job opportunities and that the education gap between men and women had been narrowed.

The "Beijing+10" meeting, to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the conference, was held in Beijing from August 29 to September 1, 2005. More than 800 delegates, from around the world, reviewed China's achievements in implementing BPFA. They also discussed how China could better promote gender equality and women's development.

"China has set up an effective national mechanism for greater gender equality, and it has put in place a favorable situation where society, as a whole, cares about and supports women's cause," then-Chinese President Hu Jintao said during the meeting's opening ceremony. He added that China had incorporated women's development into the overall national program of economic and social development.

The International Forum on Women in Urban Development and Commemoration of the 15th Anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women was held in Shanghai from September 16-18, 2010. The forum attracted more than 300 women from 50 countries or regions. Participants discussed various topics, including the growth of female talents, women's comprehensive development and responsibility and women's roles in urban development.

The UN and its member states have also reviewed implementation of BPFA on a five-year basis. The UN held a special session, "Women 2000: Gender Equality, Development, and Peace for the 21st Century," in 2000 in New York, to conduct a five-year review and appraisal of the implementation of BPFA, and to consider future actions and initiatives.

In 2005, a 10-year review and appraisal of BPFA was conducted as part of the 49th session of the Commission on the Status of Women. The 15-year review of BPFA took place during the commission's 54th session, in 2010. Member states adopted a declaration that welcomed the progress made toward achieving gender equality, and they pledged to undertake further action to ensure the full and accelerated implementation of BPFA and the Beijing Declaration.

In March 2014, the UN implemented the yearlong "Beijing+20 Campaign: Empowering Women — Empowering Humanity: Picture it!" to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the conference. The campaign focuses on achievements and gaps in gender equality, and on women's empowerment since 1995. During the campaign, global, regional and national events will be held throughout the world in the lead up to the 20th anniversary of the conference.

How time flies! This year marks the 20th anniversary of both China's basic State policy of gender equality and the Fourth World Conference on Women. Let us carry forward the spirit of the Fourth World Conference on Women, and let us work hard to promote gender equality, protect women's rights and interests, and make greater contributions to the development of women’s causes and the progress of human civilization. We believe that Chinese women will march forward into a new era – with new prospects.

(Women of China)