STORY: China, like-minded countries highlight rights of older women at UN session
DATELINE: July 1, 2023
LENGTH: 00:01:42
LOCATION: GENEVA, Switzerland
CATEGORY: POLITICS

SHOTLIST:
1. various of UN office building in Geneva
2. SOUNDBITE (Chinese): CHEN XU, Head of the Chinese Mission to UN at Geneva

STORYLINE:

China and some 60 like-minded countries stressed at the 53rd Session of the UN Human Rights Council on Friday that promoting and protecting the enjoyment of human rights by older women is an important issue for all countries.

On behalf of these countries, Chen Xu, head of the Chinese Mission to the UN in Geneva, delivered a joint statement saying that since the Fourth World Conference on Women convened in Beijing, the global cause of women's development has advanced significantly. However, at the same time, with aging of the global population, older women face such difficulties as discrimination based on age, poverty, and insufficient social security.

SOUNDBITE (Chinese): CHEN XU, Head of the Chinese Mission to UN at Geneva
"Since the Fourth World Conference on Women convened in Beijing, the global cause of women's development has advanced significantly. However, at the same time, with aging of the global population, older women face such difficulties as discrimination based on age, poverty, and insufficient social security. Promoting and protecting the enjoyment of human rights by older women is an important issue to all countries.
This year marks the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. All States should take this opportunity, take practical measures to eliminate barriers faced by older women, protect their rights and address specific needs to leave no one behind.
We advocate the following three points:
First, promote equality. Countries should effectively deliver on the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, eliminate prejudice, discrimination and violence against older women, and promote social services to provide more care to them.
Second, enhance social-security. Countries should provide older women with improved old-age caring conditions, including such social security measures as medical care and unemployment care.
Third, increase participation. All countries should promote older women's participation, especially in economic, social and cultural affairs, so that they act as participants, contributors and also beneficiaries in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the post-COVID recovery."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Geneva, Switzerland.
(XHTV)