This week in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, UN Women and China's Supreme People's Court co-hosted an international symposium on judicial concepts and practices to protect women's rights. The event marked the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, a landmark blueprint for gender equality worldwide.
Key judicial leaders took the stage on Friday, November 21, 2025. Justice Wang Zhongming, vice president of the Supreme People's Court, highlighted the judiciary's role in advancing gender equality and safeguarding the rights of women and girls. Christine Arab, UN Women regional director for Asia and the Pacific, underscored the importance of international collaboration. Justice Wang Shujiang, president of the High People's Court of Sichuan Province, also addressed the gathering, while Chen Zhiyuan, president of the China Applied Jurisprudence Institute, chaired the session and delivered closing remarks.
Ahead of the symposium, the Supreme People's Court released the 2025 Guiding Case of Anti-Domestic Violence in China. This collection features eight model cases concluded over the past three years, introducing innovations such as:
- Recognition of mental abuse as a form of domestic violence;
- Interdisciplinary expert testimony to support survivors;
- Coordinated 'one-stop' support mechanisms for victims;
- Judicial rulings on compensation for household labor.
These Guiding Cases aim to strengthen national capacities, promote accountability, and move the Chinese mainland closer to a 'zero violence' goal, aligning with international standards under the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).
As the global community reflects on three decades since the Beijing Declaration, this symposium illustrates how judicial reforms and cross-border partnerships are shaping the next chapter of women's rights protection. For young global citizens, business and tech enthusiasts, thought leaders, and travelers alike, these legal strides offer new avenues to support gender justice and sustainable development worldwide.
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Symposium highlights judicial efforts to protect women's rights
cgtn.com
