by the Chinese Women’s Research Society and Cai Yiping, Isis International

The All-China Women's Federation International Liaison Department and the Chinese Women’s Research Society held a non-governmental organisation conference on the 15th anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women. on 15 June 2009 in Beijing, China

Gathering around 70 participants from the academia and civil society across country, the conference launched the discussion on drafting the NGOs' evaluation report on China's implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action (BPFA) and the outcome document of the 23rd special session of the UN General Assembly (Beijing+5).

The participating NGOs envision the report to be a comprehensive review and assessment of implementation of BPFA and Beijing+5, the women's movements' achievements and experiences, problems and challenges, as well as future strategies and policy recommendations. The proposed report will focus on 12 areas such as women and poverty, women and education, women and health, violence against women, women and the economy, women's participation in political and decision-making, women's human rights and law, women and media, women and the environment, girls, national mechanism for the advancement of women and gender mainstreaming and the financial crisis on women.

It was also decided during the conference the conveners and authors for each topic, among others. The release of this ground-breaking report is due at the end of September 2009.

Another key decision during the conference is the affirmation of Chinese NGOs to participate in the Asian-Pacific Women’s NGOs on Beijing+15 Forum which will be held from 22 to 24 October 20092 in Quezon City, Philippines. The participants likewise signified their willingness as stakeholders in the production of a regional report for the Beijing+15 Forum which will be held prior to the 54th session of UN Commission on Status of Women in March 2010 in New York, United States.