Consul General highlights Pak, China efforts for women rights

Consul General highlights Pak, China efforts for women rights as China is set to hold Global Summit of Women in 2025.

As the world celebrated International Women’s Day on March 8, a significant milestone in the global pursuit of gender equality approaches: the 30th anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women and the adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action in 1995. Reflecting on three decades of progress, the transformative impact of collective global efforts has been undeniable. The number of countries enacting gender equality laws has surged from 12 to 193, secondary school enrollment for girls has climbed from 69% to 89%, maternal mortality has declined by 44%, and women’s representation in national parliaments has increased from 11.3% to 26.5%.

To build on this momentum, China has announced plans to host a new World Conference on Women this year, reinforcing its commitment to advancing women’s rights globally. However, despite these achievements, significant challenges remain. According to the 2024 Global Gender Gap Report by the World Economic Forum, the time required to close the gender gap has extended to 134 years—an increase from 99 years in 2019. Persistent disparities include 65% of girls in developing countries lacking access to basic education, women’s labor market participation lagging 25% behind men’s, and women shouldering over 75% of unpaid care work. Additionally, only 26% of political leadership roles worldwide are held by women, with fewer than one in ten heads of state being female.

Addressing these challenges is not only a moral imperative but also a strategic necessity for sustainable development. United Nations reports suggest that narrowing the digital gender gap alone could unlock $1.5 trillion in global economic growth. Recognizing this, Zhao Shiren, Consul General of China in Lahore, emphasized in a recent address that “by integrating equality into national governance, China has built a three-dimensional model incorporating legal safeguards, institutional frameworks, and social mobilization for women’s empowerment.” The 2022 revision of the Law on the Protection of Women’s Rights strengthened measures against gender discrimination, while the Anti-Domestic Violence Law has led to a 12.6% reduction in domestic violence reports annually.

China’s achievements in women’s empowerment extend to education and employment. For nine consecutive years, women have comprised over 50% of college students, making up 51% of postgraduate candidates and 45% of researchers. Female academicians now exceed 100 nationwide, and women hold 37.7% of corporate board seats. The rise of the digital economy has created 60 million jobs for women, and in 2023, seven of the world’s top ten female entrepreneurs were Chinese. Moreover, female representation in China’s National People’s Congress has increased to 26.54%, with more women assuming leadership roles in central and provincial governments.

As Pakistan’s all-weather friend and strategic partner, China acknowledges Pakistan’s efforts in narrowing gender gaps, including a decline in arranged marriages, crackdowns on organized child begging, improvements in girls’ literacy, and enhanced vocational training programs for rural women. “China commends the government of Pakistan for its unwavering efforts to narrow gender gaps,” Zhao Shiren remarked. China has also extended its support to Pakistan’s gender equality initiatives. In 2024, President Xi Jinping personally oversaw the delivery of 20,000 “health packages” to women in Balochistan, with an additional 50,000 packages planned for this year. Chinese enterprises, such as the Orange Line Metro Project and Challenge Apparels Co. in Lahore, prioritize equal employment opportunities, hiring local women across various roles, from administration to engineering and management.

The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) continues to present new opportunities for women’s empowerment. The inception of Uraan Pakistan, a gender-inclusive initiative, and the high-quality development of CPEC further strengthen China-Pakistan cooperation in fostering inclusive growth. These efforts aim to elevate Pakistani women’s roles in politics and socio-economic development, accelerating progress toward the United Nations 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.

Women’s contributions to society must be duly recognized and celebrated. “Without women’s liberation and progress, there can be no true liberation and progress of humanity,” President Xi Jinping once stated. Zhao Shiren highlighted that by hosting the upcoming World Conference on Women, China seeks to bridge divides, shift the discourse on gender equality from “claiming rights” to “creating value,” and align the principles of the Beijing Declaration with global development frameworks such as the Belt and Road Initiative and CPEC. Through this synergy, China and Pakistan aim to cultivate a culture of inclusive growth and sustainable development, ensuring that women continue to shape the future of both nations and beyond.