Gradual increases in the rate of female suicide and a skewed gender ratio pose a challenge in China
Women in China are trailing behind in the country’s attempts to attain impressive economic achievements, says a report launched jointly, on March 25, in Beijing, by the United Nations and the Government of China.Elderly women in China still suffer the effects of poverty, female suicide is on the rise and a skewed gender ratio among newborns are likely to have a serious impact on the country’s future demography.The 45-page report, ‘Millennium Development Goals, China’s Progress’, paints a candid picture of China’s progress toward meeting the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).The report, however, notes that China will probably achieve most of the goals by 2015. Targets such as primary education have already been achieved, 13 years ahead of schedule. But the country may not be on track for halting and reversing the spread of HIV/AIDS, promoting gender equality and providing safe drinking water to its rural population.
According to the report, gender gaps are widening, and ageing Chinese are posing an increasing challenge as they are disproportionately poor and female, with widows and unmarried childless women among the most economically vulnerable.
The widely observed increase in the margin of newborn boys over girls “has serious implications for the future,” warns the report. Sexual predetermination of newborns, though illegal in China, is rampant. The government estimates that the sex ratio is about 116 boys for every 100 girls.“The shortage of women will have enormous implications on China’s social, economic and development future,” says UN resident coordinator Khalid Malik. “In the next decade, we could have as many as 60 million missing women. People are exercising their preferences, but the consequences for society are huge.”Women comprise 45% of China’s workforce, much higher than the world average of 35%. However, the average Chinese woman earns only 80% of what a man earns.Roughly 36% of all Chinese officials are women; women held 22% of the seats in the National People’s Congress in 2002. Yet, there is only one woman Politburo member and one woman state councillor, reflecting a scarcity of women at senior levels of leadership.The report takes note of government strategies to support women’s rights. New initiatives are helping to promote the education of disadvantaged groups, with built-in inspection systems to ensure equity. Efforts are underway to improve women’s reproductive health through programmes that increase women’s understanding of topics related to their health.UN secretary-general Kofi Annan praised China for the strides it has taken towards reaching the MDGs, but cautioned that it must still be prepared to meet the considerable challenges that lie ahead.
Source: www.un.org, March 29, 2004
