Int'l Forum on Women Opens in Beijing

The International Forum on Women focusing on gender equality and women's empowerment opened in Beijing on October 14. [China Women's News/Wang Chunxia]

The International Forum on Women focusing on gender equality and women's empowerment opened in Beijing on Wednesday.

The two-day convention covered four themes, including globalization and women's economic development; poverty alleviation and rural women's development; women's equal rights and empowerment; and, women's education and role.

The forum aimed to implement the guidelines of the speech by President Xi Jinping at the high-level Global Leaders' Meeting on Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment, held at the UN headquarters in New York on September 27, and further advocate the spirit of the Fourth World Conference on Women.

Furthermore, it was expected that attendees would discuss efforts to carry out the commitments made at the historic conference that took place in 1995. The forum provided an opportunity for experts to exchange opinions on contemporary studies of women's issues, and further strengthen gender equality, according to organizers.

The Beijing-based charity China Soong Ching Ling Foundation (CSCLF) and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) jointly hosted the event.

CSCLF Standing Vice-President Qi Mingqiu said in his speech that gender equality is a global agenda, and the international community has always been committed to achieving such a goal.

As more and more women in China and abroad are becoming active in each aspect of society, including in the political and economic fields, and playing significant roles, their statuses are increasingly being recognized, Qi said.

Over the past 30 years, the CSCLF has been fully committed to the spirit of Soong Ching Ling (1893-1981), founder of the organization and the wife of Sun Yat-sen who established the Republic of China, said Qi, adding that the organization has been active in the areas of education, culture, sports, arts and charity with a focus on women, children and young adults.

Meng Xiaosi, vice-president of the All-China Women's Federation (ACWF), said in her speech, "Currently, global women's development is uneven, and is a mixed picture from place to place."

Though most of the countries and territories are advancing the issues, none has completely reached the goal of gender equality, Meng pointed out.

Meng said that China has been loyal to the constitutional principle of gender equality, and set it a basic state policy to promote social development.

In addition, China is improving its laws and rules, making public policies, and compiling development plans to continuously promote gender equality and women's development, said Meng.

Twenty years ago, the UN Fourth World Conference on Women adopted the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and drew a blueprint for global gender quality and women's development.

Last month, President Xi put forward significant ideas on the promotion of women's development, and vowed to further promote gender quality, protect women's rights and interests, as well as help developing countries with women's development, Meng continued.

She pointed out that reaching the goal of gender equality needs senior leaders' political commitment, the improvement of laws and policy frameworks, a favorable environment and all people's participation and effort.

Agi Veres, UNDP Deputy Resident Representative, and Julia Broussard, country program manager at UN Women, attended the opening ceremony and delivered speeches.

More than 100 women leaders, scholars and experts from over 30 countries and international organizations, including the UN, the African Union, the U.S., Russia, Germany and Italy, attended the forum.

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