CRI听力:HeForShe Campaign Held in Beijing

The UN Women China organization has recently launched a HeForShe campaign here in China to promote equality for women.

CRI's Huang Shan has this report.

Serving as a part of UN's global efforts, the HeForShe campaign highlights social and cultural barriers that hinder women and girls from achieving their full potential.

During the campaign, people from all backgrounds have gathered in Beijing to discuss the inequality faced by women and girls in China, and around the world.

The campaign, led by the UN Women China organization is trying to encourage men and boys to take action against inequalities confronted by females.

Julie Broussard is the country program manager of UN Women China.

"China has seen some huge improvements in the status of women since 1949, particularly in terms of employment and education, but there is still a ways to go. According to the 2010 census of China there are 34 million more men and boys in China than women and girls, and this is a result of send preference. There are also other problems that hurting women here, some employment discrimination, domestic violence, and other issues."

Chinese actor Li Guangfu also gives his thoughts on gender inequality as a social problem.

"It's common to see girls do better at school than boys, all the way to higher education in China. But at work you see women take far fewer important positions. I think this is a big social problem."

Since the launch of HeForShe at the UN head quarters in New York in 2014, a large number of men worldwide have made the HeForShe commitment to curb gender inequality.

The long namelist includes heads of state, CEOs, and global luminaries from all walks of life.
Organizers believe the involvement of men on channels like social media may play a crucial role in sending out the campaign's message.

Former Olympic Champion Yang Ling mentions his role in the campaign.

"I will make a good example and promote gender equality. I will never discriminate against women and children in action or language."

As part of the campaign, a one-year initiative called Impact Ten by Ten has been launched as well.
This initiative aims to engage people with the greatest capacity to influence others, such as governments, corporations and universities.

Organizers hope that, through these means, the campaign's message can be spread more widely, and communities with the greatest need to address gender equality concerns can be targeted.

For CRI, I'm Huang Shan.