Beijing Women's Federation

The United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) held a session for the fourth cycle of universal periodic review of China in Geneva from January 23 to 26. The Chinese Government attached great importance to the session and sent a delegation of over 20 central authorities and representatives from Xizang and Xinjiang Uygur autonomous regions, Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions (SAR) to attend the session. The delegation gave a comprehensive introduction about the country's path of human rights and great achievements and had constructive dialogue with representatives of other countries.

To help people of other countries grasp a deep understanding of China and Beijing and showcase the efforts made by social organizations in the Chinese capital to further improve the wellbeing and safeguard human rights from non-governmental perspectives, in particular the development of women's human rights, Beijing Women's Federation (BWF) dispatched a representative to join a delegation of Beijing NGO Network for International Exchanges to attend the session and sideline events in Geneva. BWF’s representative shared the federation’s practices in narrowing gender gap during the digital era during the sideline events.

About 50 Chinese and international delegates held talks over the promotion and protection of people's economic, social, cultural and development rights and the building of a human rights economy at a side meeting themed “The Right to Development at the Core of Decision Making: Respecting and Safeguarding Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.” Li Yue with BWF spoke about the practice of building collaboration platforms to support women entrepreneurs in sci-tech fields and foster girls' science awareness and innovative competence in a move to bridge the gender digital divide. She also shared the actions taken by women’s organizations in Beijing to respond to challenges to gender equality in the digital age, and protect women and children's rights through multilateral cooperation.

Li sat on the universal periodic review of China. She noticed that China’s report fully showed the country’s emphasis and consistent efforts in protecting the rights and interests of women and children, and she learned that delegates from many countries spoke highly of China’s human rights progress.

Meanwhile, the delegation sat on the UNHRC’s review of Mauritius and participated in the sideline event held by civil society organizations in Jordan. The members had deeper understanding of other countries and learned other social organizations’ experience in organizing side meetings.

The UNHRC Universal Periodic Review has become a major platform for countries worldwide to engage in equal and candid exchanges and hold constructive dialogues and cooperation on human rights under the framework of the United Nations. China has undertaken three cycles of review in 2009, 2013, and 2018, respectively. On January 26, the 45th session of the UNHRC Universal Periodic Review Working Group adopted unanimously China’s report on the fourth cycle of the universal periodic review of China.