Viewing the World Through a Gender Perspective

I was involved in international liaison work (related to) women's issues during the past three decades. The UN Fourth World Conference on Women in 1995 was the event that impressed me the most. The significance of the conference was that it helped women and men, all over the world, view the world from a gender perspective, a point of view that highlights understanding of gender equality and gender issues.

The conference helped advance the development of women's undertakings in China. Our government made a commitment to the world that China would (stick to) its basic State policy of gender equality. A great number of women's organizations have since been established in China. Those organizations have helped promote gender equality and support disadvantaged women, such as helping women escape poverty and combat violence.

As a member of the Chinese Government's delegation to the conference, the conference gave me opportunities to learn about other governments and women's efforts to achieve gender equality, peace and development. During the meeting to work out issues related to the issuance of the Platform for Action, representatives of different countries coped with various difficulties that stemmed from our different cultural backgrounds, religious beliefs, values and conditions in our respective nations. I remember the debates over the words and phrases to be used in the document.

During the conference, I realized that Chinese women and women's organizations ought to make our voices heard in international women's movements. I have tried my best, for years, to introduce China's advancement, especially advancement in women's development, to the world.

In last 20 years, some of the concepts confirmed during the conference have been widely accepted by people all over the world. Such concepts include 'women's rights are human rights,' 'gender mainstreaming' and 'women's empowerment.' Governments of various nations have taken measures to safeguard women's equal rights in political participation, employment, education, health care, family and marriage, and personal rights protection.

According to the evaluation of UN, no country has fulfilled all of its commitments to achieve gender equality and women and girls' empowerment. The commitments will not be achieved in the short term. Decision-makers ought to adopt a gender perspective and take efficient measures to advance gender equality. In addition, it is important for us to enhance international communications and cooperation, and to learn from others' strong points to make up our deficiencies.

(Women of China)