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Chinese, French women hold dialogue
(China Daily)
Updated: 2004-03-19 23:29 A trailblazing gathering in the French Senate
heard Chinese women speaking on women's rights.
For the first time, members from China's National People's Congress and the
Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and French women politicians
held a dialogue on women's rights and political participation.
Part of the Chinese Culture Women's Week, the exchange between politicians
from the two countries attracted a local audience of around 200.
Gu Xiulian, vice-chairwoman of the National Committee of the People's
Congress of China, said the economic, political and social environment must be
improved to help realize gender equality and the advancement of women's status.
She stressed the importance of peace and development as a precondition under
which women could participate fully in social advancement.
In her opening remarks, Nicole Ameline, French Minister of Social, Labour and
Solidarity, said women's civil rights should be protected in their totality. She
said everyone should contribute to building a new culture that helps achieve
gender equality.
"We must actively promote the new culture of gender equality. It should not
stop at a policy level, but become a social reality," she said.
Speakers from both sides stressed the importance of a legal framework as well
as a working mechanism to guarantee women's political, economic, social rights,
and the participation of women in managing state affairs as well.
Fang Xin, a member of the Standing Committee of the National People's
Congress, touched on the legal implications of gender equality.
A legal specialist, she said China had by July 2002 stipulated 11 laws that
relate to women and women's rights protection and amended another seven relevant
laws.
Over the years, she has maintained close contact with women's NGOs as these
organizations have suggested several areas that need legal stipulations.
Related laws should cover couples' property, suggested the All-China Women's
Federation. Fang and her colleagues took such suggestions to the National
People's Congress.
As a consequence, particular regulations on the matter were written into the
new marriage law.
Xavier Froment, acting chief of the Women's Rights and Equality Service under
the French Ministry of Social Affairs, Labour and Solidarity, said that with
laws in place, commitment from all sides is essential.
"We must put our commitment into action, beginning now with
ourselves."
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