Promoting decent work and gender-inclusive policies: CSW69 UN Women high-level side event was successfully organized in Beijing

Beijing (ILO News) -- The 69th session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW69) is held from 10-21 March 2025 at the United Nations headquarters in New York. This year, CSW69 focuses on the review and appraisal of the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action over the past 30 years and the outcomes of the 23rd special session of the General Assembly. On this occasion, the UN Women China Office, together with the China Federation of Internet Societies (CFIS) and the International Labour Organization (ILO) Country Office for China and Mongolia, successfully held a high-level side event on March 18 themed by "Beijing+30: Advancing Women's Economic Empowerment through Decent Work and Gender-Responsive Policies" through hybrid format.

The event highlighted how employment should address the specific needs and vulnerabilities of women and girls. It spotlighted laws, policies, innovative strategies, replicable programme interventions and practices that address gender-based discrimination in the workplace. Additionally, it focused on the recommendations to foster inclusive workplaces and empower women economically. Therefore, we can unleash women's potential to drive sustainable economic growth and advance the economic and social development.

The event featured the Report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the outcome of the twenty-third special session of the General Assembly and UN Women “Women’s rights in review 30 years after Beijing” Report, which emphasized the priorities for future actions to “ensure a focus on gender equality, care and decent work for women in the transition to a low-carbon economy and in the context of technological change, particularly the growth of artificial intelligence; Prioritize public investments to develop and expand integrated care systems, including care leave policies, the provision of universal care services across the life course and the proper recognition and reward of paid caregivers; Improve the quality and conditions of women’s work, through labour rights and entitlements for informal workers and efforts to reduce labour market segregation and close the gender pay gap”.

All women are working women, whether their work is paid or unpaid, and it must be recognized and valued. Let's commit to a future where every woman is empowered, enabling every woman to thrive and contribute fully to our economies and societies.

Changhee Lee, ILO Country Office Director for China and Mongolia

Representatives from several countries and key stakeholders discussed the challenges and opportunities women have faced in employment over the past five years. They explored policies and practices to promote decent employment and address workplace gender discrimination, including developing women's talent and potential, creating family-friendly workplaces, building comprehensive care systems, and fostering multi-stakeholder cooperation. The discussions emphasized the critical role of high-quality employment for women in advancing gender equality and promoting economic development.

As part of the theme of CSW69, the side event called on key stakeholders, including governments, businesses and civil society organizations, to take action to promote decent work and gender-inclusive policies, with a focus on employment and livelihoods for women facing multiple disadvantages and intersectional discrimination, and to accelerate progress towards the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, leaving no one behind.

UN Women China Country Representative Smriti Aryal, Secretary General of the China Federation of Internet Societies Zhao Hui, ILO Country Office Director for China and Mongolia Changhee Lee, Vice President of China Enterprise Confederation Liang Yan and Director of All-China Women’s Federation Women's Research Institute Guo Ye shared their insights with the participants. Senior officials from governments of China, Kenya and Malta, as well as representatives from academia and civil society organization shared their practices and views at the event.