Accra, September 30, GNA – Three decades ago, the significant Fourth World Conference on Women organized by the United Nations took place in Beijing.
The conference embraced the forward-thinking Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, marking a significant turning point for gender equality.
Its demand for gender equality continues to resonate today. And in the coming days, world leaders will gather again in Beijing for the Global Leaders’ Meeting on Women.
China’s response to that call is already circling the Earth.
In December 2021, astronaut Wang Yaping conducted China’s initial live science class from the Tiangong space station, smiling while showcasing experiments in microgravity to students on Earth.
Behind this unique science class is an amazing adventure – one that reflects China’s own development in empowering women.
Wang Yaping was raised in a small village located in Shandong Province. As a child, she aspired to explore beyond the boundaries of her village.
Few could have predicted that she would one day break free from the constraints of Earth.
Her journey serves as an ideal symbol of the rising path of Chinese women – and for the “she-power” spreading throughout the developing world.
Legal Launchpad
Wang’s success was not due to chance; it was shaped by policy. Since the establishment of the People’s Republic, “equality between men and women” has been a constitutional principle and a core state policy.
This dedication has been consistently strengthened by legal measures, including the Law on the Protection of Women’s Rights and Interests and the Employment Promotion Law, which methodically eliminate institutional obstacles that hinder women’s progress.
Following the 1995 World Conference on Women, gender budgeting was incorporated into national development plans, transforming theory into a driving force.
This long-term dedication has created opportunities for women to succeed, ranging from local communities to the top levels of scientific fields.
By the Numbers
Empowered by this encouraging structure, “she-power” has emerged as a driving force reshaping Chinese society:
In the field of education, females have surpassed males in undergraduate programs for many years.
In the economic sector, women make up over 40 percent of the overall workforce and occupy 37.7 percent of positions on corporate boards.
In the realm of politics, women currently account for 26.54 percent of deputies within the National People’s Congress, marking a notable rise of 10 percentage points compared to three decades prior.
In good health, China’s maternal death rate has dropped to a historic minimum, placing it among the top performers in upper-middle-income nations.
From astronauts and village officials to researchers and company executives, the limit has turned into the vast expanse above.
South-South Synergy
China’s dedication goes beyond its own territory. By engaging in South-South cooperation, it collaborates actively with countries in the Global South to promote women’s progress.
China offers its knowledge in maternal and child health, constructs schools and medical facilities via the Belt and Road Initiative and the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), and provides vocational training initiatives like the Luban Workshops to help women gain contemporary skills.
Aid is no longer relevant; partnership is now the main focus. Collaborative efforts driven by partnerships have enabled women to gain the knowledge and resources needed to define their own futures. This reflects the global objective outlined in the Beijing Declaration.
The wave is noticeable. Madam Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has been newly elected as Namibia’s first female president -30 years following her role as Rapporteur-General at the 1995 conference.
She aligns with Tanzania’s Samia Suluhu Hassan and an expanding constellation of African women, highlighting the increasing political influence of women throughout the continent.
A Shared Future
As Liu Yang, another Chinese female astronaut, reflected on her space mission, she mentioned that she saw “no borders, only one family.” Women’s empowerment serves as the force that can unite this family.
The forthcoming Global Leaders’ Meeting on Women in Beijing presents an opportunity to renew that international collaboration.
With the emergence of the Global South, the untapped power of women will play a crucial role in creating a fairer, more inclusive, and wealthier world for everyone.
This represents the highest realization of a community with a shared future for humankind. That is “she-power” – and it is set to reach the stars.
GNA
Edited by Kenneth Sackey
Hui Fan is a political analyst residing in Beijing.
Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc.Syndigate.info).
