ACWF President Urges Women's Federations to Target Poverty Relief

Shen Yueyue, vice-chairperson of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress and president of the All-China Women's Federation, talks to entrepreneurs at a college graduate pioneer park in Inner Mongolia on January 20. [hhxc.gov.c]

Shen Yueyue, president of the All-China Women's Federation (ACWF), urged local women's federations to take an active part in targeted poverty relief efforts during her inspection tour in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region from January 20-21.

During her visit to state-level poverty-stricken counties in the region, Shen, who also serves as vice-chairperson of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, talked to impoverished women and grassroots officials, to learn about their production and living situation, listen to their difficulties and needs, and help find ways to shake off poverty.

In a village in Ulan Qab, Shen learned about the number of impoverished people on record, asked them about the causes of poverty and their plans and measures of improving their economic situation in the future.

She fully affirmed the local women's federation's efforts in promoting industries and supporting impoverished women in developing hand-weaving and handicraft industries at home.

During her visit to a pioneering e-commerce business park boasting 23 enterprises launched by female college graduates, Shen asked about the preferential terms and services it offers and learned about the college graduates' plans, advantages and hardships.

She encouraged those at the site to promote the Internet Plus development and select business opportunities based on their own advantages and market conditions. She also urged women's federation officials to establish better platforms for their ventures and offer them more help.

On the second day, a team headed by Shen held a ceremony in a village in Ulan Qab to donate books on safeguarding women and children's legal rights and interests, in addition to gifting woolen fabrics and bags filled with daily necessities, worth some 10 million yuan (U.S. $1.5 million) in total.

Shen also visited several villages in state-level impoverished Zhuozi and Hexing counties. Whilst visiting local women, she asked about their health, lives and needs, and encouraged them to build up their confidence of shaking off poverty through hard work. Presenting them with consolation money, she wished them a happy Spring Festival.

At the symposium attended by local government and women's federation officials, Shen urged them to deeply understand President Xi Jinping's remarks on poverty alleviation.

Shen said that it is a crucial task for women's federations to make efforts in targeted poverty relief and bring warm care of the Party and government to impoverished women. Meanwhile, she also put forward a seven-point proposal to women's federations at various levels across the entire autonomous region, aiming to realign their work on poverty alleviation amongst underprivileged women.

More specifically, local women's federations were expected to lead targeted women on a path to economic prosperity; provide underprivileged women with a range of technical training; help more women engage in featured industries; and rally social forces to assist local women and children in their personal lives.

Jiao Yang, vice-president and member of the Secretariat of the ACWF, and other officials in Inner Mongolia, also attended the event.

Shen Yueyue presents consolation money to impoverished women in a village in Ulan Qab in Inner Mongolia on January 21. [China Women's News/Yang Rui]

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