Targeted policies for women could contribute to equality

As the G20 works to empower women amid a global increase in them facing hunger and poverty, China has emerged as a potential model for nations lagging on this front.

The nation with a population of 1.4 billion has made significant strides in gender equality through targeted policies and programs.

These initiatives, including small loan programs and tuition exemptions, have enhanced women's employability and economic independence.

Huang Xiaowei, vice-president of the All-China Women's Federation, underscored these achievements during a G20 ministerial meeting on women's empowerment in Brasilia, Brazil, last month.

She called for more international exchanges to narrow gender disparities across the globe.

Huang highlighted that China has achieved this goal partly by investing in girls' education, with over half of college students in China now being female.

This increased focus on education has led to higher employability among Chinese women, reflected in a labor participation rate of approximately 63.7 percent, compared with the global average of 47.3 percent, she told a mix of government officials and representatives of international organizations on Oct 11.

Women make up more than half of the workforce in lucrative sectors such as finance, internet services, public accounting and intellectual property, she said, adding that 45.8 percent of Chinese scientists and one-third of individuals involved in e-commerce and livestreaming businesses in China are female.

As rural men seek jobs in urban areas, their wives are often left behind to care for their families, with women making up 65 percent of the working-age population in the countryside.

In recent years, authorities have assisted 44.16 million rural women in lifting themselves out of poverty through initiatives such as providing small loans for starting businesses or buying agricultural materials.

Huang said that Chinese banks and other financial institutions have prioritized women in their efforts to help the nation eradicate absolute poverty. Together, they have extended 640 billion yuan ($88.4 billion) in loans to over 8 million rural women in the past decade.

"Women in China, whether in emerging or traditional economic sectors, have attained unprecedented economic independence. This empowerment enables them to excel in their lives while contributing to the development of the economy and society," Huang said.

She said that G20 nations, despite differing circumstances, are united by a common vision of modernization and gender equality.

Huang advocated for empowering women through technology and education, ensuring their legal protection, and cultivating a collaborative, inclusive culture.

She urged increased international cooperation to advance women's empowerment in alignment with the United Nations'2030 Sustainable Development Goals ahead of schedule.

Statistics from UN Women paint a stark picture of the challenges faced by women globally. One in every 10 women worldwide lives in extreme poverty. The number of women and girls residing in conflict-affected regions has doubled since 2017, surpassing 614 million. In these areas, women are 7.7 times more likely to endure extreme poverty.

Climate change is projected to leave an additional 236 million women and girls hungry by 2030, twice the number of men affected. At peak working age, only 61 percent of women are engaged in the labor force compared to 90 percent of men, UN Women said.

These figures prompted ministers attending the meeting in Brasilia to adopt a declaration emphasizing the critical role of women in decision-making and global challenges.

The document proposes narrowing the gender pay gap, reducing gender disparities in the labor market, enhancing education and technical training opportunities, and promoting gender equality policies to ensure that women can participate equally across all fields.