Beijing foundation chief leads delegation to UN conference on women

The 69th session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women was held at the organization's New York headquarters from March 10 to Friday.

Zhang Yinjun, founder and chairperson of the Beijing Changier Education Foundation, led a delegation to the conference and delivered speeches at key events.

She shared the foundation's experiences in youth health education, gender equality and women's empowerment, showcasing the responsibility and commitment of Chinese social organizations in advancing global women's development.

As an organization with UN Special Consultative Status, the foundation actively voiced its perspectives during the conference, emphasizing the critical role of education in promoting gender equality and sharing its expertise in HIV/AIDS prevention, sexuality education and maternal education for youth.

The foundation hosted a parallel side event on Wednesday titled Building an Accountability Framework for Gender Equality Commitments, inviting global experts, civil society leaders and youth representatives to discuss strategies for ensuring the effective implementation of gender equality commitments.

Zhang proposed three key action initiatives: establishing legal protection systems, developing data monitoring platforms and strengthening grassroots empowerment mechanisms.

She stressed that gender equality is not only a matter of social justice but also a key driver of global sustainable development. The event lasted nearly three hours, attracting close to 300 participants and fostering high-frequency engagement through live comments and interactions.

The session also explored topics such as policy implementation for gender equality, medical equity, and education empowerment, examining new collaboration models between civil society organizations and businesses while highlighting the unique role of nonprofit organizations in driving social transformation.

The Beijing Changier Education Foundation demonstrated the active contributions of Chinese social organizations to global women's empowerment. By sharing China's experiences, fostering international cooperation, and strengthening partnerships with UN agencies and global nonprofit organizations, the foundation reinforced its commitment to advancing gender equality on a global scale.