Pledge made to push women's progress

Participants in the Global Leaders' Meeting on Women have called on the international community to promote the all-round development of women, eliminate all forms of discrimination and violence against women and girls, and enhance their participation in the digital revolution with a stronger sense of achievement, happiness and security, according to a statement issued after the meeting on Monday.

During the meeting in Beijing, representatives from the United Nations, national governments and international organizations praised China's progress in advancing women's development and contributing to the global cause of gender equality.

Dozens of countries, international organizations and UN agencies shared their experiences in improving education and employment opportunities for women and girls, and in reducing poverty and gender-based violence, during a plenary session on Monday afternoon.

The speakers highlighted the enduring significance of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, a landmark global policy framework adopted at the Fourth World Conference on Women in 1995, describing it as a continuing road map for promoting gender equality worldwide.

Dilma Rousseff, president of the New Development Bank, said the 1995 conference made gender equality a central global issue, and she emphasized the need to address current issues such as the digital divide, women's employment and violence against women. "As the phrase 'women's rights are human rights' was declared 30 years ago, it remains just as relevant today," she said.

Leticia Carvalho, secretary-general of the International Seabed Authority, expressed her appreciation of the Chinese government and UN Women for convening the meeting. "Too often, women are denied a seat at the table not for lack of competence, but because systems preserve exclusion," Carvalho said in a video address. "The challenges facing women today — whether technological, environmental, or structural — are complex and interconnected."

Building on the progress achieved over the past three decades, China, as the chair country of the meeting, called for joint efforts to create a peaceful and safe living environment for women.

China urged the world to give high priority to protecting the rights of women and girls, and to strictly prevent or eliminate all forms of discrimination and violence against them. It also called for strengthening women's exchanges and cooperation globally, with continued support from the UN.

Reviewing global and national progress on gender equality, Sima Sami Bahous, executive director of UN Women, urged all parties to translate commitments into actions.

chengsi@chinadaily.com.cn