10^th Commemoration of the 4^th World Conference on Women

Beijing, China

August 29^th through September 1, 2005

Have ten years really gone by since 30,000 women and a few men from every country of the earth traveled to Beijing and Huairou, China for the Fourth United Nations Conference on Women?  Yes, ten years have passed and the China Organizing Committee of the 10^th Commemoration of the Conference with about 800 participants should be once again congratulated for their hard work and the spectacular outcome.   For those participants who attended the 1995 Conference there was a side trip to Huairou to see how the little community has changed into a thriving complex of condominium’s surrounding a memorial building and exhibition of the 1995 conference whose grand opening waited for the jubilant celebrants.  The theme of the Conference was “Beijing + 10: Towards Gender Equality and Common Development” and it was held at the historic Beijing Hotel. 

 The Sponsors were:

            National Working Committee on Women and Children under the State Council

            All China Women’s Federation

            Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China

            UN System in China

Co Sponsor was Beijing Municipal Government

Mme. Gu Xiulian, Vice Chairperson of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress and President of the All China Women’s Federation told us of the remarkable progress Chinese women have made in implementing the Beijing Platform for Action.

The welcoming message from Mr. Khalid Malik, Resident Coordinator, UN System in China, reminded us that 189 United Nations member states adopted the Beijing Platform for Action – a step change in global efforts to promote gender equality and safeguard human rights.  Over the last 10 years, considerable progress has been made in the area of gender equality through capacity building, policy-setting, and legislative reforms.  Yet, there remains a large gap between policy and practice in implementing the convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW).  He further stated that the challenges are formidable.  As referenced in the Millennium Development Goals (MDG’s) progress report in 2005, “gender equality is prerequisite to overcoming hunger, poverty and disease.”

Workshops on Sub-Themes were:

            Women in Decision Making and Management

            Economic Empowerment of Women

            Women and Poverty Eradication

            Women’s Human Rights and Elimination of Violence against Women

            Women and HIV/ AIDS

            Women and Sustainable Development

The Objectives of the Conference were:

Commemorate the 10^th Anniversary of the UN World Conference

Review the implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action and the Outcome Document of the 23^rd Special Session of the UN General Assembly, discuss emerging and urgent issues on women and counter strategies, promote experience sharing, international understanding and cooperation

Give new impetus to global women’s advancement and contribute to the creation of a better future for all based on gender equality.

Monday evening, August 29^th, we boarded busses to be transported to the Great Hall of the People, for a grand opening ceremony.  We were honored by a speech from China’s President, Hu Jintao, followed by the Vice Premier of China, Wu Yi.  Addresses were also given by the President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, H. E. Mme. Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, and President of the Republic of Estonia, H. E. Mr. Arnold Ruutel, and the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mme. Louise Arbour, on behalf of UN Secretary General Mr. Kofi Annan.  A delicious meal was served while we chatted with guests from around the world.

For the next several days, plenary sessions and workshops dominated our time always with simultaneous translation in many languages.

Notable among the events was August 30^th and a special trip to the Nationalities Cultural Palace and the Official Opening of an Exhibition on the ten year progress and Development of Women.  The Beijing Exhibition Hall occupies an area of 3,789 square meters, including a comprehensive exhibition zone, an exhibition zone for provinces, municipalities and cities, and an exhibition and fair zone of “women’s favorite brand name products of China.”

This comprehensive exhibit covered topical themes of the Conference.  It showcased China’s commitment and actions for implementing the basic state policy of gender equality and for promoting women’s advancement.  It demonstrated roles of Chinese women’s groups in uniting women for participation in the economic reform and modernization, for building self-respect, self-confidence, self-reliance, self-improvement and overall empowerment.  It further illustrates the images of women of China as founders and agents for creating a well-off society, a harmonious world and a bright new century.  On site performances included world-renown Suzhou embroidery, unique Shanxi paper-cutting, beautiful ethnic costume and trappings, and saintly chime bells in the Kingdom of Chu.  The members of the WIPA delegation were interviewed and filmed by local and national television personnel while visiting this exhibit.

In another article we will cover the gaps and challenges that remain to achieve greater gender equality.

During the closing ceremony, WIPA’s President, Mrs. Juana C. Conrad was invited to speak. The full text of her speech follows:                                                          

Thank you Madam Chairperson,

Distinguished speakers

Honored guests.

From the opening session of this historic conference in the Great Hall of the People, to the concluding session, our highest aspirations have been achieved.

We were honored by the presence of President Hu Jintao who stated, “Women’s lot is deeply connected to world peace and development.”   This statement rang true in my heart and in my experience.  This statement set the tone for the conference and our work which still remains to be done.  We have heard from so many distinguished speakers who have carried this theme forward.

President Gu Xiulian inspired us further by her remarks when she said, “We have a grand blue print for a world society,” but cautioned that to achieve this it will take long-term and relentless efforts.

In reviewing our progress during this decade, one speaker said, “there is a serious disconnect of commitments at the international level and there should be consequences for good and poor performance.”  If there is a lack of consequences, there will be a lack of will to perform.

This is serious business and the health of human society depends on serious commitment.

We flew to Beijing with great hopes and many questions.  The questions were answered by our speakers from around the globe as we assessed our progress.

The workshops were outstanding and helped us to further strategize our work.  They were extremely helpful to all of us.

Where do we go from here?

The NGO Forum in Huairou created a benchmark of progress for women.  NGO’s are a “laboratory for learning,” and their knowledge and experiences help propel us forward in our work.

We cannot rest on our successes during the last decade.  A suffering, struggling humanity is waiting for our voices and action.

We cannot be satisfied with business as usual.  The President of Sri Lanka stated, “Development must include the total effect on society, and only the restructuring of society will get us where we need to go.”

We want social justice and desire a peaceful society in which women and men are valued equally where honesty, trustworthiness, dignity and respect are valued.

Let us use the example of the All China Women’s Federation and its “laser beam focus” on safe guarding women’s rights and interests and promoting gender equality in all levels of society.

Only as women take their rightful place in decision making at all levels of society, will the moral and psychological climate emerge as favorable for social justice.

In conclusion, we who are the participants of this conference wish to thank you, not in words, but in our deeds, as we return to our respective countries, full of new hope that what we have learned during our short stay in Beijing will make a greater contribution to the development of women and the progress of human civilization.