From Manila to Beijing

On the global agenda for gender equality, 2015 is of special significance, as it marks the 20th anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women. Through the conference, Chinese women gained a deeper understanding of both gender equality and the UN's democratic decision-making mechanism.

In September 1993, I retired from the People's Liberation Army, and I began to work at the Women's Studies Institute of China. Two months later, I went to Manila to attend the Asia-Pacific Women's NGO Forum, one of the preparatory activities prior to the Fourth World Conference on Women. That forum broadened my horizon.

First, I immediately noticed the difference between the women's forum and other kinds of meetings. For example, most of the forum's participants were women. I was surprised to see some of the women took their babies to the forum. Until I saw them at the forum, I had thought only officials and experts were permitted to attend such international meetings.

During the forum, I learned the origins and meanings of various words, including 'grass-roots,' 'participation,' 'subject' and 'empowerment,' and I gained a deeper understanding of the meaning of the Fourth World Conference on Women.

Second, I learned about the top concerns of women in the Asia-Pacific region, such as health, culture and education, political empowerment, economic empowerment, violence and women and environment. The topics broadened my vision and perspective on women's studies.

Third, I came to understand how the women's movement affected the UN's decision-making. The UN held nongovernmental forums before governmental conferences, so it could listen to representatives from NGOs and grass-roots organizations.

Women from various countries have established NGOs. They discuss important topics at NGO forums and evaluate their government's implementation of UN policies, conventions and strategies. They lobby the UN and their governments, so the UN and their governments will listen to them and reflect women's wishes during decision-making.

Nowadays, Chinese are familiar with the acronym NGO. However, until we attended that forum, few Chinese had heard of NGO.

Over the past 20 years, I have grown from a novice into a veteran scholar on women's studies. On the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women, I hope the goals set during that conference will be achieved, as soon as possible, in China and other countries.

(Women of China)