International symposium on "Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress" held at CCG in Beijing on International Women's Day

Photo taken on March 8, 2024 shows the symposium on “Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress” held at the Center for China and Globalization.(Photo provided by the CCG)

On March 8th,2024, to celebrate the International Women's Day and respond to the prioritized theme of the 68th session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW68) (namely "Addressing Poverty from a Gender Equality Perspective, Strengthening Systems and Financing to Accelerate Gender Equality and Enhance the Empowerment of All Women and Girls"), the China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA) Global Development Promotion Center, the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) China Office, and the Center for China and Globalization (CCG) jointly held a special symposium titled "Investing in Women Accelerating Progress" at the headquarters of the CCG in Beijing.

Globally, one of the main challenges in achieving "Gender Equality," the fifth goal of Sustainable Development, is a shortage of funds. Statistics show that there is an annual funding gap of up to $360 billion for gender equality. Increasing long-term and sustainable investments in women and girls is a key factor in accelerating the achievement of this goal of Sustainable Development and is closely related to the progress of the other 16 Sustainable Development Goals.

The symposium successfully brought together nearly a hundred participants from various domestic and international entities, including government agencies, diplomatic missions in China, United Nations organizations, financial institutions, private sectors, academic institutions, and social organizations. Participants focused on measures, mechanisms, and actions to bridge the gender gap, shared good practices and perspectives, enhanced dialogue and communication, and collectively promoted the accelerated implementation of gender equality and women's empowerment agendas as well as the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Photo taken on March 8, 2024 shows UN Resident Coordinator in China, Siddharth Chatterjee, delivers keynote speech at the symposium.(Photo provided by the CCG)

Photo taken on March 8, 2024 shows guest participants of the symposium sharing their views on effective empowerment of women globally.(Photo provide by the CCG)