国务院妇女儿童工作委员会副主任、全国妇联副主席孟晓驷在联合国国际妇女节纪念仪式上的演讲


Remarks by Mme. MENG Xiaosi,Head of Chinese Delegation to 54th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women at the UN Meeting to Commemorate the International Women's Day

2010/03/03


 
尊敬的潘基文秘书长,
尊敬的挪威性别平等与儿童事务部长利斯巴肯先生,
尊敬的各位部长,各位代表,
亲爱的朋友们、姐妹们:


Your Excellency, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon,
Your Excellency, Mr. Audun Lysbakken, Minister for Gender Equality and Children's Affairs of Norway,
Excellencies,
Distinguished delegates,
Dear friends and sisters,


今天我们汇聚一堂,隆重庆祝三八国际妇女节。十分荣幸能够在这里表达中国妇女对世界妇女事业发展的心声,转达中国妇女对世界各国妇女节日的问候和美好祝愿。


Today we gather here to grandly celebrate the International Women's Day. I am greatly honored to be here to express the aspirations of Chinese women for the development of the world women's cause, and forward greetings and best wishes from Chinese women to women of the world!


三月八日已经成为许多国家妇女的共同节日,无论种族、肤色、阶级、民族、宗教、残疾与否,我们有着共同的名字——女性。没有任何一个时刻更能让我们清楚地意识到,我们彼此血脉相连,我们的命运休戚与共。


March 8th has become a day of celebration for women in many countries. For women of all races, colors, classes, ethnicities or religions, whether disabled or not, we share the same name "women". No other moment enables us to better understand our connections and our shared destiny.


今年的妇女节尤为值得纪念。2010年不仅是国际妇女节诞生100周年,也是《消除对妇女一切形式歧视公约》通过30周年,《公约》任择议定书通过10周年,第四次世界妇女大会召开15周年,同时也是联合国通过千年发展目标10周年。一座座丰碑记录了世界妇女运动的光辉历程,铭刻了世界妇女平等与发展事业的伟大成就。但是,正如英国妇女运动思想家朱丽叶·米切尔所说,妇女解放运动也许将是一场最漫长的革命。新的现实不仅呼唤世界各国尽快全面履行承诺,而且要求我们采取新的更加有力、更加有效的行动,把世界妇女平等与发展事业推向新的高度。或许,这才是对三八国际妇女节诞生一百周年最好的纪念,才是对世界各国妇女最为切实的节日祝愿!


The International Women's Day this year is worth particular commemoration. 2010 marks not only the centenary of International Women's Day, but also the 30th anniversary of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and the 10th anniversary of the Optional Protocol to CEDAW, as well as the 15th anniversary of the 4th World Conference on Women (FWCW) and the 10th anniversary of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). These milestones recorded the glorious course of world women's movement, and witnessed marvelous achievements of world women's cause for equality and development. However, as Juliet Mitchell, the British feminist, pointed out, women's liberation may be the longest ever revolution. New realities not only calls on all states to fully deliver their commitments, but also requires us to adopt more vigorous and more effective actions to bring gender equality and women's advancement to a new height. This, perhaps, is the best commemoration of the centenary of the International Women's Day, and warmest greetings to women of the world!


在中国,今年的妇女节具有格外重要的意义。当国际妇女节百年华诞到来之际,中国的妇女运动已经站在中华人民共和国建国60周年的新起点上。60年来,中国妇女的地位发生了“翻天覆地”的变化。亿万中国妇女从过去倍受压抑和桎梏的群体变成了国家、社会和自己命运的主人。中国的改革开放和快速发展为妇女进步带来了前所未有的机遇,中国女性以自尊、自信、自立、自强的精神踊跃参与竞争、主动迎接挑战,在经济、政治和科教文卫等各项事业中发挥了积极的作用,撑起了新中国经济发展和社会进步的“半边天”。几十年来,中国妇女事业进步的经验告诉我们,平等与发展互为依存,密不可分;妇女事业的发展离不开国家的全面发展,离不开政府强有力的政治意愿,离不开全体公民的积极参与和奉献;妇女既要争取解放和平等,也要积极参与发展。只有平等与发展并行,我们的路才能越走越宽、越走越远。


In China, the Women's Day this year is of particular importance. At the arrival of the centenary of the International Women's Day, the Chinese women's movement stands on a new starting point of the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. Over the 60 years, the status of Chinese women has undergone "earth-shaking" changes. Hundreds of millions of Chinese women are no longer the oppressed and fettered group of the past, but masters of the country, the society and their own destiny. The reform and opening up and rapid development of China has brought along unprecedented opportunities for progress of women. Through active participation in competition and by meeting challenges in the spirits of self respect, self confidence, self reliance and self development, Chinese women have played positive roles in economic, political, scientific, educational and health affairs, and hold up "half of the sky" of economic and social progress of New China. Decades' experience of advancing women's cause in China shows that equality and development are interdependent and inseparable from each other, and that women's advancement is inseparable from national development, strong political will of the government, as well as active participation and contribution of all citizens. Only when equality and development go hand in hand can we blaze a longer and broader path forward.


尊敬的各位代表,朋友们,


Distinguished delegates, dear friends,


15年前,联合国第四次世界妇女大会在中国北京召开,它不仅为亿万中国人民和妇女打开了一双通过性别视角看世界的眼睛,极大地推动了中国男女平等的进程,也为世界妇女事业增添了永不磨灭的光辉。《北京行动纲领》指引着我们行动的方向,12个重大关切领域得到确认,“妇女权利是人权”和“性别意识主流化”的观念得到认可,妇女的多样性和对处于不利境地群体的关注日益提上日程。在执行《北京行动纲领》,推进妇女人权的过程中,我们深刻地意识到,人权与平等实现的道路千差万别,必须根据各国的国情自主地选择。15年的实践告诉我们,性别意识主流化和性别数据指标是重要的工具,但是不能取代实质性的推进性别平等的活动。15年来的实践告诉我们,妇女问题包括发展的问题,也包括社会性别的问题,不能孤立解决。15年来的实践还告诉我们,不同妇女群体的诉求有所不同,需要平等的倾听和同样的尊重,包括来自弱小、贫困、不发达和发展中国家妇女以及被边缘化的妇女群体的诉求。


15 years ago, the UN 4th World Conference on Women was held in Beijing. It not only enables hundreds of millions of Chinese people and women to look at the world through gender-sensitive lenses, thus greatly push forward the gender quality process in China, but also adds indelible glory to the world women's movement. The Beijing Platform for Action guides our actions. It identified 12 critical areas of concern, and reaffirmed the concepts of women's empowerment and gender mainstreaming. It brought the diversity of women and the concerns of disadvantaged groups onto agenda. In the process of implementing the BPFA and promoting women's rights, we fully realized that the ways to protect and promote human rights and equality vary and should be independently chosen in line with national situations. 15 years' of practice revealed that gender mainstreaming and gender-specific data and indicators, important tools as they are, may not substitute substantial activities for the promotion of gender equality. 15 years' practice indicates that women's issues cover both gender and development and cannot be addressed in isolation. 15 years' practice also indicates that women of different groups have different priorities and needs, and that the voices and needs of women from underdeveloped and developing countries and of marginalized groups must be taken into account and equally respected.


尊敬的各位代表,朋友们,


Distinguished delegates, dear friends,


国际性别平等事业已经取得了巨大进步,在性别平等立法、女童教育和采取跨部门行动消除对妇女的暴力等方面取得了长足发展。然而,不可否认,全面实现性别平等依然面临许多挑战和困难:在10亿多全球贫困人口中妇女占大多数;每年有53.6万妇女和女孩在孕期或分娩时或产后6周内因并发症死亡;全球女议员的平均比例仅为18.7%;妇女弱势就业地位突出;各类形式对妇女的歧视依然存在。不可否认,男性的思维主导着推动世界运转的核心力量,在贸易、金钱和预算等资源中,妇女的声音异常薄弱,在关乎我们生命的水、空气、能源,以及决定生死存亡的战争与和平的决策桌旁,妇女的身影寥寥无几……前进的道路上还有许多坎坷。但是,困难只是给了我们更加奋发和拼搏的理由,挑战只会激发我们更加坚强和昂扬的斗志,在追求性别平等的征程上我们将永不退缩,永不止步。


Global gender equality has registered enormous progress with impressive outcomes in the areas of legislation, education of girls and cross-sector cooperation for the elimination of violence against women. However, it is undeniable many challenges and difficulties still remain for achieving full gender equality. Today women account for the majority of the over 1billion people in poverty; each year 536,000 women and girls die of pregnancy or maternity or within 6 weeks after delivery; the global average of women in parliaments stand at 18.7% only; women face vulnerable situation in employment; and gender discriminations in its various forms are still widespread and rampant. It is undeniable that male thinking dominates the core power that moves this world. On trade, financial and budgetary issues, women's voices are extremely weak. Around the decision tables on water, air, energies, which affects our lives, and on war and peace, which determine life or death, women are barely represented… There are still many obstacles on our way forward, but difficulties only ignite our strength and perseverance, and challenges only firm our wills. On the way to gender equality, we will never stop, never give up, and never turn back.


亲爱的各国姐妹们,你们有这样的感受吗?在每年的三八妇女节期间,我们周围的社会仿佛都变成了“妇女之友”:成功妇女的突出贡献得到承认和奖励,妇女的价值受到尊重,妇女可以休假,男士们会为妇女献上鲜花,连最苛刻的媒体也会更加关注妇女的处境和地位,甚至男士们会嫉妒地问“为什么没有男人节?”但是,对于每个女性而言,我们渴望的不是一年只此一天,而是每天每时每刻生活在尊重和平等之中。


Dear sisters, do you realize that on the International Women's Day each year, our societies seem to turn into "women's friends": successful women are recognized and awarded, the value of women comes to the spotlight; we can have a day off work and men would send us beautiful flowers. Even the most critical media pays more attention to our status and concerns. Men would even ask in jealousy "why isn't there a Men's Day?" But, for every woman, what we aspire is not just one day like this every year, but living in respect and equality each and every moment of our lives.


朋友们,


Dear Friends,


看到《北京行动纲领》,《消歧公约》和千年发展目标随着岁月而长大,并且产生更广泛的影响,我们心生喜悦。然而,我们期待的,是更强有力的行动让这些经典的目标迸发出改变生活和世界的力量,直至有一天,也许三八节真正成为历史,因为到那时,每天都是妇女节;因为到那时,男女已经平等地分享并创造这世界所有的一切。而这,是我们在座的所有人、每个人,你和我共同的责任。


It brings us joy and delight to witness the growth and increasing impacts of the BPFA, CEDAW and MDGs. But we expect more vigorous actions that transform these lofty objectives into new forces that would change our lives and world, until one day the International Women's Day becomes real history, because then every day is as good as the Women's Day, and then men and women equally share and create everything in this world. And this, is a responsibility shared by everyone of us present here, by you and me.


最后,我想表述的是,男性和女性共一个世界,分享不同的美好。男女两性从来不是天敌,而是平等的伙伴。妇女事业的进步不仅将为女性带来尊严和幸福,也将为所有人的生活带来改善和快乐。三八国际妇女节不仅属于女性,也属于所有人。因此,请允许我代表中国女性衷心祝愿各国的姐妹们节日快乐,也盛情邀请各位男士与我们一同分享节日的快乐!


Lastly I would like to say that men and women share this world while enjoy different splendors. Women and men are never born enemies, but equal partners. Women's advancement not only brings integrity and happiness to women but also better life and joy to all. In this sense, the International Women's Day not only belongs to women but also to all people of the world. Hereby, please allow me to extend, on behalf of Chinese women, our sincerest best wishes to our sisters around the world for a Happy International Women's Day, and also warmly invite all men to share our celebration and happiness!


谢谢各位的聆听。


Thank you all for your attention.