Chinese envoy urges better protection of women and girls

A Chinese envoy to the United Nations on Friday stressed it is necessary to better protect women and girls in areas of conflict by way of promoting peace and development.

Women and girls often suffer the most from regional conflict, violence, terrorist attacks and transnational crimes and are the most vulnerable group under these attacks, said Wang Min, China's deputy permanent representative to the UN, at a Security Council open debate on the issue.

"The international community should attach great importance to the comprehensive protection of women and girls' rights and closely coordinate and cooperate to achieve effect," said Wang, who also stressed the importance to identify the root causes of the issue. "The international community should take practical and effective measures to promote political process and achieve national reconciliation, trying hard to prevent women and girls from getting hurt in conflict-affected areas."

He also urged concerned parties in conflict to make efforts to improve national economic and social development, promote gender equality as well as the empowerment of women and girls, he added.

Noting that the countries concerned have the primary responsibilities for the protection of women and children, Wang held that the international community should provide women and girls with assistance to their needs, particularly in the fields of finance, technology and human resources.

The envoy also called for full participation of women in decision-making and equal rights in education, health and employment.

"The United Nations should seek more effective ways to improve the promotion of women and girls' rights and the full implementation of Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action adopted in 1995 at the Fourth World Conference on Women," said Wang, adding that China is ready to work with the international community to this aim.