BEIJING, Oct. 13 (Xinhua) — As the Global Leaders' Meeting on Women kicked off in Beijing on Monday, the world's attention has turned to China. Thirty years after championing the global gender equality agenda via the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, the country is breathing new life into the world women's cause through tangible practices.
Over the past three decades, China has made historic strides in advancing women's development. From eradicating absolute poverty, which lifted hundreds of millions of women out of hardship, to empowering women's roles in economic sectors and decision-making, the country has integrated gender equality into national development strategies, offering assets to a world where women still confront challenges including poverty, violence, discrimination and economic inequality.
Legal Shields
In Changsha, capital of central China's Hunan Province, the "one-stop" anti-domestic violence service center at the Yuelu district court, exemplifies the country's judicial protection path for gender equality.
Jointly launched in 2024 by UN Women and the Changsha women's federation, this center provides comprehensive support including psychological counseling, shelter and legal assistance. Adopting a victim-centered approach, it operates a coordinated mechanism involving the police and the women's federation for effective intervention and follow-up measures.
"The center serves as a practical implementation of the outcomes of the 1995 World Conference on Women," said Li Yiwen, a judge with the district court, emphasizing that the center explores combating domestic violence through comprehensive, cross-sectoral collaboration.
According to a white paper on China's achievements in women's well-rounded development, recently released by the State Council Information Office, the country has established a legal system that is anchored by its constitution, centers on its Law on the Protection of Women's Rights and Interests, and covers over 100 laws and regulations overall. China has also taken resolute actions to combat illegal acts that infringe upon the personal rights of women and girls.
"China has in recent years promulgated a series of laws and regulations, improving the legal framework and providing solid guarantees for women's education, employment, healthcare and social participation," said Michel Olivier Kenne, a Cameroonian lecturer who has lived in China for over eight years, adding that the Chinese way of promoting women's rights offers global enlightenment.
In a previous interview with Xinhua, Nahla Haidar, chair of the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, said China had made notable progress in strengthening its legal framework, expanding education and enhancing social security. These efforts are crucial for the broader global movement toward gender equality.
Economic Empowerment
Skills empowerment, notably, is another core pillar of women's development strategy in China. In north China's Tianjin Municipality, the Jin Guo Family Handicraft Workshop, a project of the local women's federation, is transforming the lives of women facing employment barriers.
A remarkable example of this change came during the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, when the medal-winning Chinese short track speed skating team held bouquets of "everlasting" crocheted flowers. These exquisite items were crafted by 24 women from Liangzi Village in Tianjin — whose average age exceeded 50.
This journey was not easy. Led by village women's federation chief Li Hongyu, the women started from scratch. The demanding Olympic order, requiring 1,380 stitches per rose with minimal margin for error, pushed them to their limits. Through targeted training and smart division of labor, they broke down the complex process, enabling even less skilled members to contribute. Ultimately, they delivered 12,000 flawless bouquets ahead of schedule.
To date, nearly 400 women have joined the crocheting team. Their wide range of handmade products, including bouquets, potted plants, dolls, home decor items, bags and pendants, are sold nationwide.
The vitality of China's approach is further demonstrated via global cooperation initiatives. In a rice field of Mahitsy in Madagascar, 29-year-old Rasolonomenjanahary Mbolatiana Anjarasoa applies techniques learned from the African Mothers' New Farm project to nurture seedlings. "A better harvest means I can send my children to school," she said.
Led by the Hunan Women's Federation, this project helps African women enhance their skills and boost their independence, by establishing demonstration zones, dispatching agricultural experts and supporting entrepreneurial investment.
The project has already helped 1,150 African women secure employment and resulted in the improvement of the living conditions of 950 families, serving as a vivid example of China fulfilling its international commitments regarding women's issues.
According to Huang Xiaowei, deputy head of the National Working Committee on Children and Women of the State Council, China has implemented empowerment projects totaling over 40 million U.S. dollars in more than 20 countries, trained over 200,000 women from more than 180 countries and regions, and provided employment support for women in more than 100 countries.
At the Global Leaders' Meeting on Women, being held from Oct. 13 to 14, participants are pooling wisdom to address key challenges in women's empowerment and strengthen their collective resolve to promote gender equality.
Participating in the meeting, Amal Amaar, president of Egypt's National Council for Women, expressed appreciation of China's efforts in enhancing the protection of women's rights and women's empowerment. She hopes that this Beijing gathering will lay out a new global agenda for promoting women's rights.
At the meeting, former Norwegian Prime Minister Gro Harlem Brundtland said in a video speech that the Beijing Declaration created a comprehensive visionary plan, which is still "the most progressive benchmark for women's and girls' rights."
"Much has improved, but there is a long way to go," she said. "We must carry forward the Beijing spirit. The battle is not won, so the fight must continue."
(Source: Xinhua)
Editor: Wang Shasha
