Shining the Olympic Spirit on Gender Equality: “International HeForShe Roller Derby Invitational” Advocacy Event
Date:
Beijing, China – Chinese popular TV star Zhu Yawen and Olympic speed skating champion Wang Meng are attending a special sports advocacy event to show their support for gender equality.
The advocacy event, which is organized by UN Women, Proya Cosmetic Company, Beijing Roller Derby, and seven other sponsors, is the International HeForShe Roller Derby Invitational. The event will attract a large audience of nearly 500 people to the Ditan Olympic Gymnasium in Beijing, China. The aim of this advocacy event is to raise awareness of UN Women’s global “HeForShe” campaign and China’s newly passed national law against family violence. This event will use the medium of sport to convey messages that women are strong, fast, agile, and should never be victimized. The featured sport is roller derby, a sport closely linked to women’s empowerment.
Many honored guests will attend the event, including Mme. Xue Li, Deputy Director of Sports and Culture Development Center of the State Sports Administration; Anna-Karin, Deputy Regional Director of UN Women Asia-Pacific; and Julie Broussard, UN Women China Programme Manager. Mr. Yu Jia, distinguished CCTV5 host, will moderate the event. Ms. Deng Yaping, the world famous Olympic Table Tennis champion, will be as a special VIP Guest.
To encourage more people around the world to support gender equality, UN Women has launched the global HeForShe campaign in September 2014. HeForShe is a solidarity movement for gender equality developed by UN Women to engage all people as advocates and agents of change for the achievement of gender equality and women’s rights. The campaign is encouraging people to speak out and take actions against inequalities faced by women and girls. Gender equality is not only a women’s issue, but it is also a human rights issue that affects everyone – women and girls, men and boys.
Today’s event will feature a scrimmage between two “HeForShe” teams composed of a mix of roller derby players from Beijing, Bangkok, the UK, and Japan. Coaches and referees were from the USA and Canada. This event is marking the first time that a roller derby bout has ever been played in China.
In support of this advocacy event, Ms. Xue Li who will represent the State Sports Administration, says: “Advocacy efforts could and should also focus on sports featuring women. Men need to see women as strong athletes, women as worthy of attention, and women’s sports as equal to men’s sports.”
Ms. Anna-Karin Jatfors, Deputy Regional Director of UN Women, states: “At the heart of HeForShe is the understanding that achieving gender equality in our lifetimes is possible, but only if we engage men as partners for women’s rights, and acknowledge the ways in which they also benefit from this equality. Being a HeForShe means to join a struggle that for gender equality that for too long was seen as the business of women alone, as equal partners in helping to realize a common vision that will benefit not just women but all of humanity.”
Famous and well-known film and TV star Zhu Yawen as a HeForShe advocate says: “Not only as a celebrity, but also as a father, husband and man who lives in society, I hope we can create a gender-equal world for our future generation. It is a social responsibility for each man. We need to love and respect women and support them to be strong and independent.”
Pledging as a HeForShe advocate, Wang Meng, a representative of Chinese female athlete and a four-time Winter Olympic Gold Champion, says: “I will try my best to advocate gender equality so that women will have the equal rights with man not only in the sports field but also in other areas such as political participation and equal employment.”
Proya’s representative emphasizes: “Businesses win when they give women equal opportunities for employment. Society wins when it gives women equal opportunities for everything.”
Moderator Yu Jia wrapped it all up at the end as a HeForShe advocate when he observed: “The message from today is clear. The medium of sports is ideal for reaching men and boys with the HeForShe and women’s rights messages. Men are part of the problem, so they have to be part of the solution. Without gender equality, there will be no solution to the world’s problems.”
Proya Cosmetics Company, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Western Academy of Beijing, Women’s Flat Track Derby Association, Fella’s Catering Management Co., Ltd, Doko Healthy Food, Catering & Management Co., and Guangzhou Nice Court Flooring Co., Ltd are supporters of the event.
To join this worldwide movement and make a commitment to make a change, pledge support to www.heforshe.org/zh and click “I Agree” to show your solidarity. To learn more about the program and track its progress, visit www.heforshe.org/zh or http://asiapacific.unwomen.org.
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For media inquiries, please contact:
Please contact: Jing Xu
UN Women China,
Tel: +86 10 8532 0934, 189 1155 2608
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Qi Cathy Guo
UN Women China,
Tel: +86 10 8532 5925, 1350 139 4798
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NOTE TO EDITORS
About UN Women
UN Women is the United Nations organization dedicated to gender equality and the empowerment of women. A global champion for women and girls, the organization was established in 2010 to accelerate progress on women’s rights worldwide. UN Women’s efforts are based on the fundamental belief that every woman has the right to live a life free from violence, poverty, and discrimination, and that gender equality is a prerequisite to achieving global development.About Beijing Roller Derby
Formed in 2013, Beijing Roller Derby is one of three roller derby leagues in China. BRD was founded by UK transplant Jay Latarche and Texan Hooten Annie, who met online through a shared love of the sport. In the years since founding BRD, the league trained up a team of 20 -- mostly beginning-level -- skaters with bi-weekly training sessions and practice matches. Beijing Roller Derby wants to have a good time, play roller derby, and help promote the sport throughout China.
About PROYA
Established in 2003, Proya is a Chinese leading Cosmetics research and manufacturer that applying high bio-technology to manufacture skin-care products. So far the company has successfully created 6 brands including PROYA, UZERO, ANYA, YOYA, CATS & ROSES and O’LAXSN with over 1000 products, able to satisfy the demands of consumers of different age and with different preferences; established nationwide distribution network across more than 30 cities, covering department stores, cosmetic boutiques, large supermarket chains and electronic business platforms. The company has successfully realized the multi-brand, multi-category, multi-channel and multi-model operation and development mechanism, achieving a leading position in the Chinese beauty market.
About Nice Court
Guangzhou Nice Court flooring Co. Ltd. is a leading global manufacturer of synthetic materials for sports and recreation flooring in China, established in 2004. They have set clear corporate goals, i.e. be the most professional provider of sports and recreation flooring, along with providing their customers with advanced technologies and products. They have been chosen as the designated sports flooring products by the organizers of professional sporting events both at home and abroad and claim to be Asia's largest manufacturer of Suspended Modular Sports Floor.
About WFTDA
The Women’s Flat Track Derby Association is the international governing body for the sport of women’s flat track roller derby and a membership organization for leagues to collaborate and network. The WFTDA sets standards for rules, seasons, and safety, and determines guidelines for the national and international athletic competitions of member leagues. There are currently 369 WFTDA member leagues and 76 leagues in the WFTDA Apprentice program.
About PwC
PricewaterhouseCoopers (known as PwC) is a multinational professional services network headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the largest professional services firm in the world, and is one of the Big Four auditors, along with Deloitte, EY and KPMG. As of 2015, PwC is the 6th-largest privately owned organization in the United States. PwC is a network of firms in 157 countries, 756 locations, with more than 208,100 people. The company's global revenues were $35.4 billion in FY 2015, of which $15.2 billion was generated by its Assurance practice, $8.9 billion by its Tax practice and $11.3 billion by its Advisory practice.
About WAB
Western Academy of Beijing (WAB), founded in 1994, is private non-enterprise not-for-profit organization belonging to the WAB Foundation and overseen by an all-volunteer Board of Trustees, incorporated in Beijing, China. It is schooling 1400 students from various countries from elementary school to high school level. WAB demonstrates its moral commitment through its philanthropic involvement and strong community ties. They run initiatives, such as the construction of an environmental center to teach students about eco-friendly environmental technologies.
About Fella’s
Fella’s Catering Management Co. is a family-style sports restaurant based in the Beigao community of Beijing that offers food catering for a variety of clients and occasions, including community events, international schools, private events, BBQs, etc. The company is a supporter of Sports Beijing, the Beijing Softball League, the Beijing Baseball League, the Beijing Ice Hockey League, and the Beijing Roller Derby League. They also provide direct sponsorship to the Western All Stars (baseball team), the Beijing Roller Derby, and all the teams in the Beijing International Ice Hockey League.
About Doko
Doko is a subsidiary under parent company Fella’s Food & Management LLC, a wholly foreign-owned enterprise (WFOE) in Beijing. A Beijing-based restaurant providing healthy meals, Doko aims at offering people quick, nutritious and delicious dining options and promotes a healthy diet. Their choices of meat, tofu and sauces are based on healthy principles. Besides that, in order to promote a healthy lifestyle, all beverages are non-alcoholic.
扬奥运精神 促性别平等
“他为她” 轮滑德比国际邀请赛 倡导活动
2016年5月3日, 北京 — 中国人气影视明星朱亚文和奥运短道速滑冠军王濛参与了一个特别的倡导活动，表达他们对性别平等的支持。
联合国妇女署、珀莱雅化妆品股份有限公司、北京轮滑德比运动队和另外几位赞助商联合举办的“他为她”轮滑德比国际邀请赛，将吸引近500名观众前来北京地坛体育馆参加。此次活动的目的是宣传联合国妇女署全球“他为她”性别平等联合运动和提高公众对中国新颁布的《反家庭暴力法》的认识，通过体育运动来传达这样的信息——女性是强壮并敏捷的，她们永远不应成为暴力的受害者。通过轮滑德比，一项和女性赋权紧密相关的运动，来表达此次活动的主题。
许多贵宾将亲临到场支持，包括国家体育总局体育文化发展中心副主任薛立、联合国妇女署亚太地区部副执行主任安娜科琳洁特夫斯（Anna-Karin Jatfors）和联合国妇女署中国国别主任汤竹丽(Julia Broussard)。中央电视台第5频道著名主持人于嘉先生将主持此次活动，世界著名乒乓球冠军邓亚萍女士将作为特别嘉宾出席活动。
为了鼓励全球更多人参与支持性别平等，联合国妇女署在2014年9月发起了全球“他为她”联合运动，旨在号召大家参与推动性别平等、实现妇女赋权，成为引领社会改变的行动者。“他为她”鼓励人们采取行动，对妇女和女童面对的不平等待遇发声。性别平等不仅是女性的问题，它关乎每一个人的人权——不论妇女和女童，还是男性和男童。
今天的活动将在两个“他为她”轮滑德比队伍之间的展开对抗赛。两组队伍由来自北京、曼谷、英国和日本的队员混合组成，教练和裁判来自美国和加拿大。这次比赛将是在中国举办的第一场轮滑德比比赛
国家体育总局体育文化发展中心副主任薛立女士发表了支持本次活动的讲话。她说：“性别平等的倡导活动可以、也应该围绕着女性运动来进行。男性同胞应该看到女性同胞在运动场上的英姿飒爽，她们值得那份关注和尊重。女性运动和男性运动同等重要。”
联合国妇女署亚太地区部副执行主任安娜科琳洁特夫斯（Anna-Karin Jatfors）女士说：“‘他为她’运动的核心是坚信——在我们有生之年，达到性别平等是有可能的——但我们一定要号召男性同胞一起为此努力才能成功。男性同胞必须认识到，性别平等对他们同样有好处。支持‘他为她’运动代表着参与到倡导性别平等的事业中。这份事业在过去的很长时间里只被看做是女性的事，实际上，男性在这项事业里应该被视为同等重要的合作伙伴，而且最关键的是，我们应该达成这样一种共识——性别平等不仅对女人有益，它对全人类有益。”
著名的影视明星同时也是“他为她”项目大使朱亚文先生强调：“作为一位公众人物，同时也作为一位父亲、一个丈夫，还有这个社会中的一个男人——我希望我们能为后代创造一个性别平等的世界。这是每一个男人的社会责任。我们要爱并尊重女性，并且支持她们成为强大而独立的人。”
冬奥会四冠王、中国女性运动员的代表人物王濛作为“他为她”宣传大使表示：“我将尽我最大的努力来倡导性别平等。女性不仅应在运动赛场和男性享有平等的权利，在社会中的其他领域，比如政治参与和求职就业方面，也理应享有平等的机会。”
珀莱雅化妆品股份有限公司的代表强调：“当商业世界给予女性平等就业的机会时，它必将创造更大的价值和利润。当一个社会给予女性在各方各面的平等机会时，它也必将享有更大的繁荣和和谐。”
主持人于嘉作为“他为她”宣传大使最后总结道：“今天我们想要传达的信息非常明确：体育运动是把‘他为她’和妇女赋权精神传达给男性的理想方式。男性与性别不平等问题息息相关，因此为解决这个问题，男性需要做出努力。没有性别平等，世界的诸多问题将永远无法得到解决。”
珀莱雅化妆品股份有限公司、普华永道会计师事务所、北京京西国际学校、世界女子平轨轮滑德比协会、哥们儿餐饮管理有限公司、Doko健康食品餐饮管理公司和广州耐氏柯特地板有限公司是此次活动的赞助商。
要加入全球“他为她”倡议，承诺进行改变，请登录www.heforshe.org进入“他为她”主页。点击“我同意”加入倡议，支持性别平等。欲知更多，请查看 www.heforshe.org 或 http://asiapacific.unwomen.org
媒体咨询联系方式：
许晶 联合国妇女署中国办事处
电话：+86 10 8532 6687, 189 1155 2608
邮箱：[ Click to reveal ]
郭琪 联合国妇女署中国办事处
电话：+86 10 8532 5925, 1350 139 4798
邮箱：[ Click to reveal ]
关于联合国妇女署
联合国妇女署在2010年建立。作为联合国系统中致力于性别平等和妇女赋权工作的部门，妇女署是全球范围内妇女和女童权益的倡导和支持者。妇女署以促进妇女发展和维护妇女权益作为工作重点，并秉持一个信念——每位女性都有权利生活在免于暴力、贫困和歧视的世界里，性别平等是达到全球发展的一个前提。关于北京轮滑德比运动队
北京轮滑德比运动队（BRD）由Jay Latarche和Hooten Annie在2013年建立，是中国三个轮滑德比运动队之一。在BRD建立后的几年，运动队的人数上升到20人以上，并保持常规训练和比赛演练。北京轮滑运动队希望训练出一个强大的队伍，并且持续在中国本土宣传轮滑德比运动。
关于珀莱雅
珀莱雅在2003年创立，是中国领先的集研发生产销售为一体的化妆品公司。珀莱雅致力于把先进的生物科技应用到护肤产品的生产上。迄今为止，珀莱雅已经创造了6个属下品牌，包括珀莱雅、优资莱、韩雅、悠雅、猫语玫瑰和欧兰萱，拥有超过一千种产品，满足了不同年龄、不同喜好的消费者之需求。珀莱雅同时建立了在全国各地超过30个城市和各大卖场、百货和电商平台的销售网络。珀莱雅成功地发展了多品牌、多分类、多渠道和多模式的管理和发展机制，成为了中国美妆品牌的领导者。
关于广州耐氏柯特地板有限公司
广州耐氏柯特地板有限公司是一家全球化体育运动与休闲地面合成材料生产商，致力运动与休闲地面合成材料的研究与开发。公司自2004年成立以来，不断引进国外的先进技术和产品，秉承“致力强身健体、创造快乐生活” 的企业宗旨，以成为最专业的运动与休闲场地材料供应商并为用户提供先进的技术和产品作为奋斗目标。他们是多场国内外专业体育比赛的指定供应商，并以亚洲最大的悬浮式拼装运动地板生产商的身份为荣。
关于世界女子平轨轮滑德比协会
世界女子平轨轮滑德比协会是全球性的女子平轨轮滑德比管理机构，他们管理属下来自全世界的轮滑运动队，以会员制度为属下运动队提供合作和联系的平台。世界女子平轨轮滑德比协会设立关于安全和比赛规则的制度，为世界各地的轮滑比赛提供规则指导方针。目前，协会下有369个运动队会员。
关于普华永道
普华永道会计师事务所总部位于英国伦敦，是一个专业的国际服务网络。它是全球四大会计师事务所中的一家，是世界上最大的专业服务公司。基于2015年的统计数据，普华永道是美国第六大私人企业。普华永道拥有在全球157个国家、756个地点的公司网络，员工超过208,100人。该公司的全球收入在2015财年是354亿美元，其中152亿美元来自审计服务，89亿美元来自税务服务，113亿美元来自咨询服务。
关于北京京西国际学校
北京京西国际学校在1994年建立，是隶属于北京京西国际学校基金的私立非盈利组织，由全自愿的董事会监督。在校学生来自全球不同的国家，跨越小学到高中水平。京西国际学校通过慈善事业和与相关社区的良好关系展示了它的道德承诺。京西国际学校热衷于开展各种社会责任项目，比如建立环境教育中心，帮助学生了解对环境友好的科技等。
关于哥们儿
“哥们儿”餐饮管理有限公司是一个家庭型的运动餐厅，坐落于北京的北皋社区。“哥们儿”为多种类型的客户和活动提供餐饮服务，包括社区活动、国际学校活动、私人活动、烧烤聚会等。“哥们儿”还是北京体育俱乐部、北京垒球联盟、北京轮滑德比运动队的支持者，同时也是Western All Stars棒球队、北京国际冰球联盟、北京轮滑德比运动队的直接赞助商。
关于 Doko
Doko健康食品餐饮管理公司是哥们儿餐饮管理有限公司的属下子公司，是坐落于北京的外资企业。Doko健康食品餐饮管理公司致力于为顾客提供健康、营养又美味的餐食，并努力推广健康饮食的观念。他们选择的肉、豆腐和酱料都基于健康原则，只供应非酒精饮品。