Global delegates are gathering in Beijing for the Global Leaders' Meeting on Women, which opened on Monday, calling for stronger cooperation and expanded opportunities to advance gender equality worldwide.
Co-hosted by China and UN Women, the two-day meeting brings together a diverse array of global leaders, from heads of state and ministers to international organization chiefs and parliamentary figures, united in their commitment to gender equality.
Delegates voiced hopes that the summit would further empower women's development by strengthening partnerships and expanding opportunities.
"We're looking forward to partnerships, to opportunities that would help us in scaling women's economic empowerment, women's advancement, children's protection mechanisms and also protection of the vulnerable. So, I think it's the same with everyone. We are looking for opportunities," said Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, Nigerian Minister of State for Police Affairs.
Representatives also expressed hope for increased political participation by women, emphasizing that a more inclusive ecosystem would accelerate gender equality and empower women's development.
Gertrude Mongella, Secretary-General of the Fourth UN World Conference on Women, said she is expecting Tanzania's incumbent President Samia Suluhu Hassan to be re-elected in the country's upcoming general election.
"First of all, we are lucky that we have a woman president now. And she's running again on the 29th as we have an election this month. And we are going to re-elect her, and we expect her to do more for women, to change the ecosystem so that those which do not confide to women's equality can be changed. We want more development for the agriculture in our country, because most women are involved with agriculture," she said.
Delegates also highlighted that the meeting serves as a platform to promote exchange of ideas, which helps to create more opportunities for women to pursue better development.
"We have the mission to showcase all of our different achievements we have from our country and also to have this interchange of ideas and experiences between our countries to strengthen also our cooperation and to create more opportunities for women," said Camila Ootega Murillo, general director at Nicaragua Disena and Nicaragua Creative Economy Commission.
Global Women's Summit opens in Beijing with calls for equality, stronger partnerships
