CSW69 UN Women high-level side event in Beijing focuses on promoting decent work and gender-inclusive policies
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Beijing, China — As the 69th session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW69) – with its review and appraisal of the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action over the past 30 years – was underway from 10–21 March 2025 in New York, the UN Women China Office held a high-level side event on 18 March entitled “Beijing+30: Advancing Women’s Economic Empowerment through Decent Work and Gender-Responsive Policies”.
Organized together with the China Federation of Internet Societies (CFIS) and the International Labour Organization (ILO) Country Office for China and Mongolia, with support from the European Union, 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 recommendations to foster inclusive workplaces and empower women to unleash their potential to drive sustainable economic growth and advance economic and social development.
Smriti Aryal, UN Women China Country Representative, emphasized in her welcoming remarks that “Women’s right to work and rights at work are a fundamental pillar for women’s overall well-being, enabling them to achieve full potential and equality, impacting their health, education and overall quality of life. And when more women enter and stay in the workforce, it yields higher profitability and efficiency in business and boosts a country’s GDP and economic growth. In the countdown to 2030, we must act collectively, with urgency and full intentionality, as conversations like these are important. ‘All hands-on deck’ are needed to deliver on the promises of Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action.”
In the keynote session, Cecilia Tinonin, Research and Data Specialist for the Women’s Economic Empowerment Unit of the UN Women Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, presented emerging insights from the Beijing+30 review on inclusive development, shared prosperity and decent work.
The event also featured the Report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the outcome of the 23rd special session of the General Assembly and UN Women’s “Women’s rights in review 30 years after Beijing” Report. The latter report emphasizes 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.”
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. It also urged accelerated progress towards achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, while leaving no one behind.
Insights were also shared by the Secretary-General of the China Federation of Internet Societies Zhao Hui, ILO Country Office Director for China and Mongolia Changhee Lee, Vice-President of the China Enterprise Confederation Liang Yan, and Director of the All-China Women’s Federation Women’s Research Institute Guo Ye. Meanwhile, best practices and views were shared by senior officials from the Governments of China, Kenya and Malta, as well as representatives from academia and civil society organizations.