Three decades after the Fourth World Conference on Women reshaped global gender equality efforts, Beijing has once again become the focal point for advancing women's rights. The Global Leaders' Meeting on Women, held this week in the Chinese capital, brought together ministers, UN officials, and policymakers to assess progress and chart future strategies under the enduring shadow of the 1995 Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action.
"When 189 countries adopted our declaration here in 1995, it was a revolutionary roadmap," noted one senior UN official during plenary discussions. "Today we're seeing both remarkable achievements in education and political participation, while confronting new challenges in digital inclusion and climate resilience."
CGTN Digital's Wu You engaged participants on measurable outcomes since 1995, with multiple leaders highlighting China's 99% female literacy rate and women's 25% representation in National People's Congress seats as regional benchmarks. However, World Bank data presented at the meeting showed that closing Asia's gender pay gap could add $4.5 trillion to regional GDP by 2030 – a key talking point for business delegates.
The summit concluded with renewed commitments to strengthen legal protections against workplace discrimination and expand STEM education access for girls. As delegates departed, the consensus echoed Mao Zedong's famous adage: The modern sky requires not just being held up, but actively reshaped by women's leadership.
