TheInformationOfficeoftheStateCouncil,orChina’sCabinet,onSept22issuedawhitepaperonGenderEqualityandWomen’sDevelopmentinChina.Followingisthefulltext:
GenderEqualityandWomen’sDevelopmentinChina
TheStateCouncilInformationOfficeofthePeople’sRepublicofChina
September2015,Beijing
Contents
Foreword
Genderequalityandwomen’sdevelopmentisalastingthemeofmankind’spursuitofequalityandjustice,ascaleformeasuringsocialprogressandanimportantgoalinrealizingsustainabledevelopmentinourworld.
Chinahasalwaysupheldtheconstitutionalprincipleofequalitybetweenmenandwomen,whichisalsoabasicstatepolicyforpromotingprogressinthecountryandinsociety.OvertheyearsChinahasprogressivelyimproveditslawsandregulations,developedpublicpolicies,workedoutdevelopmentplansandpressedforwardsteadilywithgenderequalityandwomen’sdevelopment.
Twentyyearsago,theUN’sFourthWorldConferenceonWomenwasheldinBeijing.Onitsanniversarytwodecadeslater,theChinesegovernmentispublishingthiswhitepapertoprovideacomprehensiveoverviewofChina’spoliciesongenderequalityandwomen’sdevelopment,aswellasunremittingeffortsmadeandmeasuresimplementedinthisregard.
Chinesewomenmakeuponefifthoftheworld’stotalfemalepopulation.Genderequalityandwomen’sdevelopmentinChinanotonlygiveexpressiontoChina’sownprogress,butalsoconstituteahistoricalcontributionmadetoglobalequality,developmentandpeace.
I.TheInstitutionalFoundationforGenderEqualityandWomen’sDevelopment
China’snationalmechanismforpromotingthestatusofwomen,fullyutilizinggovernmentresourcesandeffectivelymobilizingsocialresources,laysanimportantfoundationforpromotinggenderequalityandwomen’sdevelopment.Overthepasttwodecades,themechanismhasbeenconstantlyimprovedtoallowittoplayanincreasinglyprominentrole.
II.WomenandtheEconomy
Equalparticipationineconomicactivitiesandequitableaccesstoeconomicresourcesarethebasicconditionsforthewell-beinganddevelopmentofwomen.Whilepressingforwardwithastrategicadjustmentofitseconomicstructureandreformandinnovationofitsgrowthmodel,Chinafullyprotectstheeconomicinterestsofwomen,promotingwomen’sequalparticipationineconomicdevelopmentandequalaccesstothefruitsofreformanddevelopment.
Thestateimprovestheemploymentstructureforwomen.In2013,thetotalnumberofwomenemployednationwidewas346.4million,accountingfor45percentofthetotalemployedpopulation.ThelatestsurveyofthesocialstatusofChinesewomenshowsthatwomeninsecondaryandtertiaryindustriesgrewby25percentagepointsincomparisonwith10yearsago,andthatfemaleheadsofvariousdepartments,professionalandtechnicalpersonnel,andclericalandrelatedpersonnelincreasedby13percentagepoints.In2013,thenumberofmiddle-rankingandseniorfemaleprofessionalandtechnicalpersonnelreached6.61million,or44.1percentofthetotalinthiscategory,anincreaseof9percentagepointsfromthatof2000.Thenumberoffemaleentrepreneurskeepsgrowing,nowaccountingforonequarterofthetotalnumberofentrepreneursinChina.Thegovernmenthasinitiatedanactionplantopromoteentrepreneurshipandinnovationamongwomen,encouragingwomentoseekemploymentinemergingindustries.About55percentofnewInternetbusinessesarebeingfoundedbywomen.
III.WomenandEducation
Chinaactivelypromotesequalityineducation,adjustingthestructureofeducation,adheringtotheprincipleofgenderequality,andworkinghardtoguaranteeequalrightsandopportunitiesforbothmenandwomentoaccesseducation.
Thegendergapineducationhasbeenmarkedlynarrowed.ThestateimplementstheCompulsoryEducationLawofthePeople’sRepublicofChinaandotherrelevantlaws,regulationsandpolicies,andtakespracticalmeasurestoimprovewomen’seducation.Ithasimplementedaspecialpolicytoensureschool-agegirlsenjoyequalaccesstocompulsoryeducation.In2014,thenetprimaryschoolenrolmentratesofboysandgirlswereboth99.8percent,meaningthatChinahasachievedtheUnitedNationsMillenniumDevelopmentGoalsaheadoftime.Womennowenjoygreateropportunitiesinjuniorhighschooleducationandabove,particularlyfurthereducation.In2014,theproportionoffemalestudentsinjuniorhighschoolswas46.7percentandthatinhighschoolswas50percent;ininstitutionsofhigherlearningwomenaccountedfor52.1percentofundergraduatestudents,51.6percentofpostgraduatestudents,and36.9percentofstudentsstudyingforPh.D.degrees.
Thestatehassetupspecialfundstoreducethenumberofilliteratewomen.In2013,theilliteracyrateforfemalesatandovertheageof15was6.7percent,17.4percentagepointslowerthanin1995;andthepopulationofilliteratewomenfellbymorethan70millionascomparedwith1995.Women’saverageyearsofschoolinghaveincreased,andthegendergaphasnarrowed.TheSixthNationalCensusshowedthattheaverageyearsofschoolingforwomenovertheageofsixwere8.4yearsin2010,1.3yearsmorethanin2000,andthegendergaphadnarrowedby0.2yearascomparedwith2000.
Womenofethnicminoritygroups,girlsinremotepoverty-strickenareasandotherfemalegroupsnowenjoyequalaccesstoeducationalresources.Thestatehasadoptedproactivepoliciestosetupvocationalschoolsspeciallycateredtoethnicminoritystudents,andintroducedpreferentialmeasuresfortargetedenrolment,substantiallyexpandingethnicminoritywomen’saccesstoeducationalresourcesofvarioustypesandatalllevels.Thestatehasdevelopedspecialeducationprogramsforpoorgirlsandschoolgirls,ensuringgirlsinremoteandpoorareasequalaccesstoeducation.Ithasbeenacceleratingtheconstructionofboardingschoolsinruralareas,therebyimprovingthestudyandlivingconditionsofruralgirls.Specificpolicieshavebeenintroducedtoprovideeducationformigrantchildrenwheretheymove.Chinaalsoattachesimportancetospecialeducation,increasingdisabledwomen’saccesstoeducationalresourcesofvarioustypesandatalllevels;asaresult,disabledwomenhaveimprovedaccesstoeducation.
IV.WomenandHealth
Chinahassetupamedicalandhealthservicesystemcoveringurbanandruralareas,andhasbeenworkinghardtoenhancediseasepreventionandcontrolcapabilities,expandtheoverallcoverageofmedicalinsurance,improvelawsandpoliciesonmaternalandchildhealthaswellastheservicesysteminthisregard,implementmaternalandchildhealthcareprograms,andendeavortomakematernalandchildhealthservicesmoreequitableandaccessible.Asaresult,women’shealthhassignificantlyimproved.
Arelativelysoundsystemoflawsandpoliciesonmaternalandchildhealthhasbeenestablished.Thestatehasenacted,revisedandimplementedtheLawofthePeople’sRepublicofChinaonMaternalandInfantHealthCare,theLawofthePeople’sRepublicofChinaonPopulationandFamilyPlanninginadditiontoanumberofotherlawsandregulations,andintroducedaseriesofsupportingregulationsandnormativedocuments,toprovidealegalframeworkformaternalandchildhealthwork.Thestatehasincludedwomen’shealthindicatorsintheoverallplansandspecialplansofthenationaleconomyandsocialdevelopment,madematernalandchildhealthcareakeyelementoftheprovisionofnationalbasicpublicservices,andincorporatedmedicaltreatmentofbreastandcervicalcancersintothemedicalsecurityandassistancesystemformajordiseases,thusimprovingwomen’shealthcare.
Anetworkofmaternalandchildhealthserviceshasbeenputinplace.AnetworkofmaternalandchildhealthservicescoveringbothurbanandruralareashastakenshapeinChina,withmaternityandchildcareinstitutionsasthecore,community-levelhealthcareinstitutionsasthefoundation,andlargeormedium-sizedmedicalinstitutionsandrelevantresearchandteachinginstitutionsasthesupport.Bytheendof2014,therehadbeen3,131maternityandchildcareinstitutionsthroughoutthecountry.Thestatehasworkedhardtoimprovecommunity-levelmaternalandchildhealthservicesandmanagedtoprovidefulllife-cyclehealthservicesforwomen.Thestatehasalsoestablishedandimprovedasystemofannualreportingonmaternalandchildhealth,andamonitoringnetwork.Ithasoptimizedtheallocationofhealthresources,andincreasedfundingformaternalandchildhealthinruralandremoteareas.Ithasacceleratedpersonneltraininginthisregardandstrengthenedstaffingforthoseinstitutions.
Maternalandchildhealthserviceshavebecomemoreequitableandaccessible.Thestatehasimplementedbasicpublichealthserviceprojectsandmajorpublichealthserviceprojectsonmaternalandchildhealth,doingallitcantoimprovethesystematicmanagementofpregnantandlying-inwomen,regulateservicebehavior,improveservicequality,andmakeaccesstomaternalandchildhealthservicesmoreequal.By2014,90percentofpregnantandlying-inwomenhadaccesstobasicpublichealthservices.Thestatehasimplementedmajorprojectstosubsidizehospitalchildbirthsforruralpregnantandlying-inwomen,benefiting57.12million.Thenationalhospitalbirthrateincreasedfrom72.9percentin2000to99.6percentin2014,andthesamerateinthecountrysidegrewfrom65.2percentin2000to99.4percentin2014.
In2009,thestatelaunchedaprogramoffreecervicalandbreastcancercheck-upsforruralwomen,providingfreecervicalcancercheck-upfor42.87millionandfreebreastcancercheck-upfor6.13million,inadditiontoextendingmedicaltreatmentto31,077womenhavingfinancialdifficulties.ThestatehascarriedoutmajorprojectsonAIDS,syphilisandhepatitisB,preventingmother-to-childtransmission;60.53millionpregnantwomenhavebenefitedfromtheexaminationortreatment.Ithasalsoheldwomen’shealthprogramssuchastheChineseWomen’sHealthInitiative,whileextendingsupporttosocialorganizationsinorganizingvariousformsofactivitiespromotingwomen’shealth.
Reproductivehealthservicesforwomenhavebeenfurtherstrengthened.Thestateguaranteesthatwomenenjoygoodreproductivehealthservicesthroughoutthelifecycle,suchasconductinggeneralsurveillanceandtreatmentofgynecologicaldiseases,andprovidingadolescentandold-agehealthcare.Ithasimplementedthepolicyoffreetechnicalservicesforfamilyplanning,promotedinformedchoiceofcontraceptivemethodsandreducedunintentionalpregnancies.Ithaskeptinvestigatingandpreventingfetalsexidentificationfornon-medicalneedsandsex-selectivepregnancytermination.Ithasprovidedhealtheducation,vaccination,maternalhealthcareandotherbasicpublichealthservicesforwomeninthefloatingpopulation,andhaslaunchedpilotprogramstoensureequalaccesstofamilyplanningandotherbasicpublicservicesbywomeninthefloatingpopulation.
Women’shealthhasfurtherimproved.Women’saveragelifeexpectancygrewto77.4yearsin2010,anincreaseof4.1yearsover2000.Thematernalmortalityratehasfallensignificantly,from88.8per100,000in1990to21.7per100,000in2014,meaningthatChinahasachievedtheUnitedNationsMillenniumDevelopmentGoalsaheadoftime.Thegapinmaternalmortalityratebetweenurbanandruralareasandbetweendifferentregionshasbeenfurthernarrowed:Therural-urbangapdecreasedfromafactorof2.4in2000to1.08in2014.In2000,thematernalmortalityrateofwesternChinawas5.4timesthatofeasternChina;thefiguredroppedto2.6timesin2014.TheWorldHealthOrganizationlistsChinaasoneofthe10countrieswithhighperformanceinmaternalandchildhealth.
V.WomenandDecisionMaking
Chinahasformulatedandimplementedlaws,regulationsandpolicyoutlinestoensurethatwomenenjoyequalpoliticalrightswithmen,whichhasresultedinahigherleveloffemaleparticipationinpoliticsandagreaterroleplayedbywomenindecisionmakingandmanagementofstateandsocialaffairs.
Women’sextensiveparticipationinthedevelopmentofgrassrootsdemocracy.In2013,femalerepresentationinvillagecommitteeswas22.7percent,anincreaseof7percentagepointsfrom2000;theratioofwomenasvillagecommitteeheadsandrepresentativesalsoincreasedsignificantly,makingwomenanimportantforceinprimary-levelruralgovernance.In2013,womenmadeup48.4percentofneighborhoodcommitteesandfemaleheadsofneighborhoodcommitteesrepresented41.5percent.Femaleemployeesalsoplayanactivepartindemocraticmanagementandsupervisioninenterprises.In2014,femaleworkersrepresented38.1percentofthetradeunionmembers,femaleemployeerepresentativesaccountedfor29.3percentofworkers’congresses,andfemalerepresentativesmadeup40.1percentand41.5percentofboardsofdirectorsandregulatorycommittees,respectively.
VI.WomenandtheEnvironment
Chinaattachesgreatimportancetocreatingasocialandculturalenvironmentconducivetoboostinggenderequality;throughbuildingahealthyandsafenaturalenvironmentandfosteringequalandharmoniousfamilytraditions,soundconditionshavebeencreatedforwomen’sdevelopment.Womenareplayinganincreasinglyprominentuniqueroleinthefosteringofsocialculture,protectionoftheecologicalenvironmentandfamilymanagement.
Women’sculturallifeisbeingenriched.Publicculturalservicestargetwomenwiththeintentionofsatisfyingtheirculturaldemands.Museums,galleries,librariesandculturalcentersnationwideareopentothepublicforfree,anddigitallibrariesarebeingdeveloped,thusincreasingwomen’saccesstoculture.Majoreffortshavebeenmadetoboostthedevelopmentofinformationtechnology,providingwomenwithnewplatformsforculturalcommunicationandinnovation.ByDecember2014,Chinesewomennetizensnumbered283million,accountingfor43.6percentofthetotalnetizens.Womenhaveever-increasingleisureopportunities.Fitnesscampaignshavebeendirectedathundredsofmillionsofwomen,andsuchactivitiesarestillgainingmomentum.AccordingtoarecentsurveyofChinesewomen’ssocialstatus,55.2percentofwomenaretakinganactivepartinphysicalexercises.
VII.LegalGuaranteesforGenderEqualityandWomen’sDevelopment
Byacceleratingthebuildingofasocialistcountryundertheruleoflaw,comprehensivelypromotingtheruleoflawandexploringsocialistmechanismssafeguardingwomen’srightsandinterests,Chinahasputinplacealegalsystemforprotectingwomen’srightsandinterestsandpromotinggenderequalitythatisbasedontheConstitution,takestheLawontheProtectionofRightsandInterestsofWomenasthecoreandencompassesvariousspecificstatelawsandregulations,localregulationsandgovernmentrulesandregulations.
VIII.InternationalExchangesandCooperationinGenderEqualityandWomen’sDevelopment
Chinaactivelyimplementsinternationalconventionsanddocumentsconcerninggenderequalityandwomen’sdevelopment,takespartininternationalbilateralandmultilateralwomen’sexchangesandcooperation,strengthensfriendlyexchangeswithwomenorganizationsallovertheworld,andfocusesonprovidingtechnicaltrainingandmaterialassistancetowomenindevelopingcountries,thusplayinganimportantroleinpromotinggenderequalityandwomen’sdevelopmentaroundtheglobe.
Chinesewomenandwomenorganizationstakeamoreactivepartininternationalaffairs.In2015,Chinahas1,695womendiplomats,accountingfor30.7percentofitstotaldiplomaticstrength.Ofthese,12areambassadors,19areconsulsgeneral,and132arecounselors,comprising7.9percent,24.4percentand30.4percentoftherespectivestaffatcorrespondinglevels.ChinesewomenorganizationsactivelyparticipateinreviewingimportantUNconventionsconcerninggenderequalityandwomen’sdevelopment.ChineseexpertshaveservedasrepresentativesonUN’sCommitteeonEliminationofDiscriminationAgainstWomen,writtenandsubmittedNGOshadowreports,whenreviewisinprocessontheimplementationofinternationalconventionsanddocuments,includingtheCEDAW,theBeijingDeclaration,andthePlatformforAction,andtakenpartinvariousformsofexchangesanddialogueconcerninggenderequalityandwomen’sdevelopment.
Conclusion
Itisobvioustoallthat,intandemwithrapideconomicandsocialdevelopment,greatprogresshasbeenachievedinthepromotionofgenderequalityandwomen’sdevelopmentinChinaoverthepasttwodecades.
Atthesametime,Chinaishighlyawarethat,asadevelopingcountrywiththeworld’slargestpopulation,andrestrictedbyitslimitedlevelofeconomicandsocialdevelopment,itwillcontinuetobeconfrontedwithnewsituationsandproblemsinitseffortstopromotewomen’sdevelopment.ThereisstillalongwaytogotoachievegenderequalityinChina,andarduoustasksremaintobetackled.
InitseffortstoadvancetheFour-ProngedComprehensiveStrategy,Chinawillcontinueimplementingthebasicnationalpolicyofequalitybetweenmenandwomen,constantlyimprovepoliciesandmeasuresinthefieldsofeconomy,law,administrationandpublicopinion,safeguardwomen’srightsandinterestsinaccordancewiththelaw,andworktoachievegreatersuccessinthecauseofgenderequalityandwomen’sdevelopment.Chinaiswillingtoworkwithothercountriestoencourageallsocialsectorstocontributetothepromotionofgenderequalityandwomen’sdevelopment,tostrengthenandexpandinternationalexchangesandcooperation,andtocontributefurthertopromotingworldwideequality,developmentandpeace.
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