The 69th session of the Commission on the Status of Women opened in the United Nations General Assembly Hall in New York, as the World Women’s Organization marked the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration at the United Nations. This milestone year also actively promotes the convening of five World Women’s Congresses in China.
Malaysian Parliamentary Deputy Chief of Staff Angela Law has been elected as the first Asian Director General of the United Nations World Women’s Organization, dedicated to enhancing the international influence of Asian women. The World Women’s Organization is officially registered with the United Nations Economic and Social Council and operates as an international-level organization providing assistance and support for the growth and development of women worldwide.
By exchanging work plans and innovative policy recommendations proposed by female leaders across the globe, the organization seeks to advance the shared goal of expanding women’s economic participation on a global scale. While the United Nations has made significant progress in advancing gender equality over recent decades, challenges such as limited funding and fragmented functions remain. Within this context, the World Women’s Organization assumes an increasingly important role.
The mission of the World Women’s Organization is to promote global unity and progress among women, foster connections between women and influential female leaders in politics, economics, culture, and education, and inspire women’s vitality and participation across all sectors of society. To date, the United Nations has convened four World Women’s Congresses to advance the development of women’s causes worldwide.
Angela Law stated that the organization will focus on two primary areas: caring for women globally and supporting women’s culture, health, employment, and development across nations, while also producing high-level guidance literature to assist intergovernmental organizations in shaping policies, global standards, and norms related to women’s advancement.
This initiative represents a meaningful summary of achievements in women’s development and provides valuable direction for exploring new pathways to further promote women’s causes worldwide.
This year’s Global Women’s Summit was successfully held in Beijing, following the official parallel meeting of the 69th United Nations Conference on Women (CSW69), the Global Women’s Leadership Summit at United Nations headquarters in New York, and commemorations marking the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration.
The Women’s Leadership Summit brought together distinguished female leaders from the United Nations system, public welfare organizations, government, business, and academia. Participants engaged in in-depth discussions on women’s leadership, global influence, and sustainable development. During the summit, women leaders and organizations making outstanding contributions to women’s empowerment were honored.
At the summit’s award ceremony, the organizing committee presented nine major awards recognizing excellence in women’s empowerment, social innovation, and international cooperation. Awards were presented by Summit President Jing Zhao Cesarone and Vice President Dr. Padmini Murthy.
Recipients of the Global Women’s Leadership Award included former Swedish Foreign Minister Ann Linde; Yvonne O’Neal, Director of the Church Pension Fund; Denise Scotto, Vice President of Legal Affairs of the International Federation of Women in Law and Justice; Professor Liu Fengzhen, President of the Soong Ching Ling International Foundation and Harvard Medical Doctor; and international cross-border artist Wang Xiaohui.
Other honorees included Charlotte M. Farmer, Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of a research institution, who received the Sustainable Development Achievement Award; Mia Drennan, founder and co-chair of GLAS, who received the Female Brand Leadership Award; Geeta Sidhu Robb, founder and CEO of WCorp, who received the Brand Influence Award; American social entrepreneur Sophia Kianni, who received the Youth Leadership Award; KuCoin, which received the Corporate Social Responsibility Award; Hao Jinling, recipient of the International Cooperation Achievement Award; education scholar Zhao Guoyu, who received the Female Education Influence Award; and international supermodel Qu Yifei, who received the Female Cultural Influence Award.
World Women’s Organization Director General Angela expressed appreciation for Dr. Liu Fengzhen’s contributions to autism advocacy and youth mental health, as well as her long-standing support for the rehabilitation of individuals suffering from severe depression, enabling many to return to active lives.
The successful hosting of the Global Women’s Leadership Summit highlights the vital role women play in driving social progress and injects renewed momentum into the global movement for women’s empowerment. Looking ahead, the World Women’s Organization will continue to collaborate with international partners to advance gender equality and plans to host future global women’s leadership summits worldwide, fostering a platform for women from all walks of life to grow, connect, and shape a shared future.
