Implementing the Beijing Declaration: Strengthening China-Bahamas Cooperation in Women's Affairs
By H.E. Yan Jiarong, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People's Republic of China to the Commonwealth of The Bahamas
As the second female ambassador of China to The Bahamas, it is my great pleasure to celebrate International Women’s Day with all women in The Bahamas.
Last July, just one day after presenting my Letter of Credence to the Most Hon. Governor General Dame Cynthia Pratt, I read in a local newspaper about one of the women pioneers, Kate Moss, receiving the Order of National Hero posthumously. As the National Honors Committee stated, "Kate's timely and steadfast courage in opposing racism and slavery" must never be forgotten. This bravery and resolute spirit of independence have shaped my initial impression of Bahamian women. A few days ago, Mrs. Ann Marie Davis, Wife of Prime Minister Philip Davis, invited me to the upcoming unveiling ceremony of sculptures honoring some pioneering women in celebration of International Women’s Day in the Clifton Heritage National Park, one of whom is Kate Moss. I am pleased to accept the invitation and donate to support the meaningful event.
Over the past ten months since my arrival in The Bahamas, I have observed that Bahamian women share many admirable traits with Chinese women: they are diligent, courageous, and outstanding, with many excelling in their respective fields. As the old Chinese saying goes, "Women are not lost to men," and "Women hold up half the sky," a phrase used by the Chinese President to commend the role of women, I want to extend this praise to the women of both China and The Bahamas.
This year, we will commemorate the 30th anniversary of the United Nations Fourth World Conference on Women hosed in Beijing. This was a pivotal event in the history of the UN, during which the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action were adopted, establishing strategic objectives and policy frameworks to promote gender equality and safeguard women's rights. At that time, I was starting my career and had the privilege of participating in that grand event.
Over the past 30 years, along with all women across China, I have witnessed our country's commitment to upholding the spirit of the Beijing Conference, actively fulfilling its promises, and accelerating efforts to promote gender equality and the comprehensive development of women. The institutional mechanisms for the synchronized development of women and economic and social development have been continuously improved. China’s 14th Five-Year Plan not only dedicates a separate chapter to setting goals and tasks for promoting gender equality and the comprehensive development of women but also, for the first time, includes a special section on "Strengthening Family Building." China’s legal guarantee for women's rights have become more robust, with all provinces and cities establishing mechanisms to assess the gender equality impact of laws and policies. The enactment of the first Civil Code of China emphasizes the protection of women's rights in marriage and family. The overall environment for women's development has been continuously optimized. By 2023, the average life expectancy of Chinese women had surpassed 80 years, the gender gap in compulsory education stage had been virtually eliminated, the proportion of female students in various forms of higher education exceeded that of male students, and women comprised over 40% of the total workforce.
This year marks the 10th anniversary of enacting the Anti-domestic Violence Law of China. Over the past decade, China's efforts to combat domestic violence have achieved new progress. Public awareness of anti-domestic violence has gradually increased, the self-protection awareness of domestic violence victims has grown stronger, judicial authorities have intervened and dealt with domestic violence cases more promptly, and the number of personal injury criminal cases involving domestic violence has continuously declined. According to survey data from 2021, the proportion of women who have suffered physical and psychological violence from their spouses in marital life was 8.6%, a decrease of 5.2 percentage points from 2010.
Recently, the 58th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council held a high-level meeting to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. Liu Yang, China's first female astronaut into space, delivered a keynote speech via video as a representative of the world's outstanding women. Liu Yang said that she is a beneficiary and practitioner of the spirit of the Beijing Declaration, as well as a witness to women's empowerment through technology. When the engines of the Shenzhou spacecraft ignited, she felt the awe-inspiring force of 600 tons of thrust and the uplifting power of hundreds of millions of Chinese women. The gender-neutral equality concept in China's aerospace standards highlights the core logic of developing women's affairs in China: creating a fair competitive environment through institutional guarantees. This is a concrete practice of the spirit of the Beijing Declaration.
President Xi Jinping proposed the concept of building a Community with a Shared Future for Mankind. China actively embodies the spirit of the Beijing Declaration by sharing its approach to women's development with numerous countries, vividly illustrating this concept. The Beijing Declaration has not only laid a solid foundation for enhancing the status of women globally, but also provided clear guidance for countries to promote gender equality and empower women through technology, earning full recognition from the international community.
At the same time, we clearly understand the fact that uneven and insufficient development of women persist prominently across the world, and cases of discrimination against women and violations of their rights occur. Our collaborative efforts to address them are needed.
China attaches great importance to international exchanges and cooperation in women's affairs. Within the framework of the United Nations, China has contributed to advancing gender equality initiatives by UN Women, refining the global roadmap for women's development. China has donated $10 million to UN Women to support international women's efforts and UN Women. China has established the UNESCO Prize for Girls' and Women's Education, which supports educational endeavors for girls and women worldwide. Professor Peng Liyuan, First Lady of China, has been named by UNESCO as Special Envoy for the Advancement of Girls and Women's Education. China also organizes training programs focused on maternal and child health and prenatal and postnatal care to enhance the capabilities of obstetrics, neonatology, and other relevant departments in participating countries, thereby benefiting local women. China has implemented 100 "Happy Campus Projects" to provide educational assistance fund to girls from low-income families, increasing girls’ enrollment rates. Additionally, China invites women from developing countries to participate in training programs in China and conducts local training for female vocational technicians in those countries. Under the funds established in cooperation with the United Nations, China has initiated projects to support capacity-building for women in developing countries. China has carried out over 60 capacity-building and technical training projects for women and has established in-service degree programs in female leadership and social development to help enhance the female officials’ ability in developing countries to participate in national and political economic activities.
In September 2022, Vice Chairperson Huang Xiaowei of the All-China Women's Federation and Mrs Davis co-hosted a video conference promoting women's comprehensive development between China and The Bahamas. During the event, anti-pandemic supplies were donated to women's groups in The Bahamas, demonstrating China's sincere willingness to foster a partnership for women's development between the two countries. I am pleased that the Chinese Embassy in The Bahamas has facilitated visits to China by Mme Speaker of House of Assembly and Mme President of Senate, as well as other local women's groups, and has facilitating collaborations between Bahamian women entrepreneurs and their Chinese counterparts. The exchange and cooperation between our two countries in women's affairs are just unfolding with more to come.
My fellow women, there is much we can and must do together! Happy International Women's Day!