On March 18, 2025, from 15:00 to 18:00 (EST), the 15th Plenary Session of the 69th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW69) was held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. Zhang Yinjun, Founder and Chairperson of the Beijing Changier Education Foundation, attended the session and delivered a speech. She focused on how to translate gender equality commitments into concrete policies and how to uphold the Commission’s core objectives in promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment—particularly in protecting women and children affected by HIV/AIDS.

This session emphasized the global commitment to the Beijing Platform for Action and sought to deepen its implementation. Discussions centered on "How to make gender equality policies more actionable and ensure that governments and enterprises take greater responsibility." Among the eight speakers were representatives from the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Tunisia, Denmark, and Uruguay, as well as three non-governmental representatives from UNICEF, civil society, and the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. The session aimed to outline new action frameworks, global financing initiatives, and concrete policy implementation measures to further advance the global gender equality agenda—transforming commitments into policies and policies into tangible actions.

Agenda of the Session：1. Follow-up to the Fourth World Conference on Women and the twenty-third special session of the General Assembly, "Women 2000: Gender Equality, Development, and Peace for the Twenty-first Century." 2. Implementation of strategic objectives and actions in critical areas of concern, as well as further actions and initiatives: Review and appraisal of the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the outcomes of the twenty-third special session of the General Assembly (pursuant to ECOSOC resolution 2022/5). 3. High-level interactive dialogue on "Accelerating the Implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action: The Role of the Commission on the Status of Women."

As the sole civil society representative at this official UN Commission meeting, the Beijing Changier Education Foundation’s presence and contributions were a strong affirmation of outstanding civil society organizations by the Commission on the Status of Women. Zhang Yinjun’s speech was met with enthusiastic applause. Following the session, Zhang Yinjun engaged in warm discussions with Catarina Carvalho (far right in the image), Head of Intergovernmental Support at UN Women’s Partnerships, Policy, and Intergovernmental Division (UN Women PPID), along with other attendees.

Below is the full text of Zhang Yinjun’s speech in both Chinese and English.

Respected Delegates：

Good day, everyone! I am honored to have the opportunity to speak at this important conference and discuss how we can further accelerate the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and its Platform for Action. On behalf of the Beijing Changier Education Foundation, I would like to share how we translate commitments to gender equality into concrete policies and impactful actions, focusing on our long-term efforts in girls’ education and training—two of the twelve critical areas of concern outlined in the Beijing Platform for Action. Additionally, I would like to highlight the indispensable role of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) in driving this progress forward. As a representative of a civil society organization at CSW69, I have deeply felt CSW’s strong commitment to transforming commitments into policies, and then policies into tangible actions—an ongoing, pragmatic, and results-oriented responsibility. Within this commitment-policy-action framework, the Beijing Changier Education Foundation aligns closely with CSW’s priorities and adopts a long-term approach to advancing gender equality and women’s empowerment, with a particular focus on women and children affected by HIV/AIDS. By providing psychological support, health education, and social protection programs, we help them overcome challenges and empower them to rebuild their lives. These efforts not only align with the core objectives of CSW but also reaffirm the crucial role of civil society organizations in policy implementation. Furthermore, our foundation places great emphasis on gender equality education for adolescents. Through school-based advocacy, comprehensive sexuality education programs, and international exchange initiatives, we actively engage the younger generation in discussions and actions that foster gender equality, cultivating youth leadership in this field. We call on civil society organizations to deepen collaboration with CSW. Civil society plays a pivotal role in addressing gender inequalities within national policy frameworks.

The discussions in this high-level dialogue all point to one core message: gender equality is not only a matter of social justice but also a fundamental pillar for global sustainable development and stability. Today, we are not merely discussing the future of women—we are actively shaping a more just, equitable, and sustainable world together. Let us join hands with CSW and take even bolder actions to accelerate gender equality and social justice, creating a brighter future for all women and youth.

Thank you!