Soroptimist International delegation visits China and the All China Women's Federation

The ACWF (All-China Women’s Federation) sent a delegation to the SISWP conference of clubs at the Gold Coast in April. From this came an invitation for SI President Hanne Jensbo, SISWP president Yvonne Simpson, past international president Jane Zimmerman, SISWP President Elect Siew Yong Gnanalingan, IPP Leigh Ellwood-Brown and past federation president Lorna Mead to attend the International Forum on Women in Urban Development and Commemoration of the 15th Anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women on 17 September 2010, Shanghai, China. After the Forum the delegation was invited to visit ACWF projects.


The Forum had 300 attendees representing 50 countries, including regional organizations from Africa, United Nations and Experts from UNESCO,UNESCAP, UNISDR, UNIFEM and CEDAW and four international organizations (International Women’s Forum, Women’s Forum for the Economy and Society, World Family Organization and Soroptimist International). The declaration that resulted from the Forum was to reaffirm the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, the Convention of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and the Millennium Development Goals with recommendations for (abbreviated)
• a people-oriented approach to ensure gender equality, sustainability and harmony between people and the environment,
• a gender perspective to ensure equal participation of women in all aspects of urban development, particularly in decision making
• ensure all people benefit from urban development
• strengthen co-operation between governments and civil society including women’s organizations


The addresses by leading advocates from the many countries present was an inspiration.


The afternoon consisted of a choice of three breakout sessions – Women in Leadership: ways beyond the glass ceiling; Women and Urbanization: mobility, transition and sustainable development and Challenging the gender roles: potentials, rights and responsibilities. SI President Hanne was a panelist on the latter session and gave examples of Soroptimist programmes with positive interaction with those attending the workshop. All workshops had Soroptimist representation.


Following the Forum the delegation travelled to Kunming, Lijian and Suzhou and visited projects where ACWF had made a positive impact. These included
• Anti trafficking education for migrant women who were particularly vulnerable to labour abuse.
• Organic gardening where a woman who had lost her employment was supported to build a gardening business. She now employs others and serves as a role model in her community.
• Tourism Co-operative – where women have been encouraged to take leadership roles in the governance of the commune
• Orphanage especially for children following the earthquake. There are now education opportunities for 400 children – helping break the poverty cycle.
• Capacity building by supporting entrepreneurial women – in the manufacturing (high quality hand embroidery) and retail businesses. In each of the two projects we visited a capable woman was supported to build a business which now trains and employs others.
• We also met with government officials, and leading women in the cities we visited which gave both parties the opportunity to share challenges and successes. We were able to promote Soroptimist ideals and examples of our programme of service.

We were escorted by ACWF staff Hongju and Xu Yue, who ensured we were well informed and on schedule. We learned from each other and deepened the relationship. Our thanks go to them for their humour and care. In true capacity development we had the balance of a leader within ACWF and a much younger staff member with potential. Thanks also go to President Hanne for her advocacy of our ideals at every opportunity, and the excellent work done in the past by Jane, Leigh and Lorna and others that brought the relationship to this point. I had the privilege to thank our many hosts. PE Siew Yong will now understudy IPP Leigh for the rest of this biennium and take the lead role in 2012. We look forward with confidence that our relationship and partnership with ACWF will continue to grow and develop. It has a very strong foundation upon which to grow.


Yvonne Simpson
President and delegate