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Expo forum calls for equal rights for women
By Xu Fang |
September 17, 2010, Friday
|
Online Edition
Online Edition
DELEGATES urged the government to pay more attention to the rights and interests of women and children when making policies during urbanization at a Shanghai forum today.
Some 300 delegates from more than 50 countries and regions attended the International Forum on Women in Urban Development in Shanghai. They issued a declaration that women are facing more challenges now with the ongoing urbanization although they enjoy more respect and rights after years of efforts.
"Women still have little voice in important issues like water, grain and oil and energy resources and big barriers still exist to hinder realization of equality between men and women," said Chen Zhili, vice chairperson of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress and president of the All-China Women's Federation.
"Each male government official should consider interests of women when he drafts a policy because their daughters, wives and mothers are all women," she said.
China is witnessing a big population migration into the cities. For the first time, the country's urban population will exceed its rural population in the next five years, officials said.
The rapid urbanization offers more opportunities to women but also brings them new challenges, the declaration says.
Women should have equal access to health care, employment, legal rights and education as males, said Melanne Verveer, US Ambassador-at-large for Global Women's Issues.
Yu Zhengsheng, Shanghai's Party secretary, attended the forum on behalf of the city government and said Shanghai will help women pursue equality and development and make women contribute more to the city's development.
Altogether 21 ministers delivered speeches at the forum, one of a series of Expo forums.
Currently, the average life expectancy of Shanghai women is 84.1 years old, ranking the first in the country. In 2007, 52.1 percent of university students in Shanghai were women, according to the Shanghai Women's Federation.
Some 300 delegates from more than 50 countries and regions attended the International Forum on Women in Urban Development in Shanghai. They issued a declaration that women are facing more challenges now with the ongoing urbanization although they enjoy more respect and rights after years of efforts.
"Women still have little voice in important issues like water, grain and oil and energy resources and big barriers still exist to hinder realization of equality between men and women," said Chen Zhili, vice chairperson of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress and president of the All-China Women's Federation.
"Each male government official should consider interests of women when he drafts a policy because their daughters, wives and mothers are all women," she said.
China is witnessing a big population migration into the cities. For the first time, the country's urban population will exceed its rural population in the next five years, officials said.
The rapid urbanization offers more opportunities to women but also brings them new challenges, the declaration says.
Women should have equal access to health care, employment, legal rights and education as males, said Melanne Verveer, US Ambassador-at-large for Global Women's Issues.
Yu Zhengsheng, Shanghai's Party secretary, attended the forum on behalf of the city government and said Shanghai will help women pursue equality and development and make women contribute more to the city's development.
Altogether 21 ministers delivered speeches at the forum, one of a series of Expo forums.
Currently, the average life expectancy of Shanghai women is 84.1 years old, ranking the first in the country. In 2007, 52.1 percent of university students in Shanghai were women, according to the Shanghai Women's Federation.
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