国内英语新闻:Senior official emphasizes effectiveness in safeguarding women's rights

BEIJING, March 20 (Xinhua) -- The All-China Women's Federation (ACWF) Chairwoman Chen Zhili Saturday stressed greater efforts to be made to improve effectiveness in safeguarding women's rights.

Chen, also vice chairwoman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, China's top legislature, made the remarks while attending a ceremony held in Beijing to mark the national week for safeguarding women's rights and opening of a special welfare phone hotline --12338 -- in this regard.

"To improve effectiveness, it is necessary to fully understand the significance of safeguarding women's rights from a perspective of advancing building a harmonious socialist society, and to combine it with diverse other activities meant to promote women's progress," said Chen.

The hotline service is hosted by local women's federations in 1,000 counties of 10 selected Chinese provinces and currently available in those counties only. Such phone service will be extended to other parts of the country gradually.