China-Belgium-ILO seminar: unlocking the potential of women to achieve sustainable development

Press release | 20 November 2019
Beijing (ILO News) -- On 19 November, the ILO joined the Belgian Embassy in Beijing in a seminar entitled “Promoting Gender Equality through Responsible Business Conduct” graced with the presence of Princess Astrid of Belgium. The event, which acknowledged the 100 years anniversary of the ILO, was organized in the context of an economic mission gathering dozens of Chinese and Belgian leaders from the private sector.

Although significant progress has made over the past decades, too many gender barriers still confine millions of women in low-skilled low-paid jobs, and they are by far the first victims of violence and harassment at the workplace."

Claire Courteille-Mulder, Director of ILO Country Office for China and Mongolia
In her opening remarks, Claire Courteille-Mulder, Director of ILO Office for China and Mongolia stressed that unlocking the potential of women, especially at the workplace, is a condition to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. “Although significant progress has made over the past decades, too many gender barriers still confine millions of women in low-skilled low-paid jobs, and they are by far the first victims of violence and harassment at the workplace”, she said.

Didier Reynders, Federal Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belgium, announced that the Belgium Government will soon start the process to ratify the recently adopted ILO Convention No 190 on ending violence and harassment at work. This will be an important contribution to a global problem, which affects more than 35% of women workers worldwide.

Ms. Song Wenzhen, Deputy Director of China’s National Working Committee on Children and Women gave a comprehensive presentation on China’s achievements in the area of gender equality. She emphasized in particular the recent measures of the Chinese government to eliminate gender discrimination in recruitment.

Following the opening remarks, the exchanges among the 80 participants offered opportunities to learn more about gender responsive business practices in China and in Belgium, highlighting both successes and remaining gaps.