Conference on Bringing Together Women’s Wisdom for a Better Future
The Women’s Commission organised a conference entitled “Bringing Together Women’s Wisdom for a Better Future” on 20 December 2012. This was the fourth large-scale conference organised by the Commission since its establishment in 2001. The objectives of this Conference were to provide a platform for participants to discuss and exchange views on issues related to the development of women, and to review Hong Kong’s implementation of the United Nations’ Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women.
The Conference was divided into three parts:
(1) Pre-Conference Activity
The Pre-Conference Activity was held on 19 December 2012 at Theatre 1, Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. A number of women’s groups, NGOs and social services agencies, etc. took part in it, with an aim to show in a lively way how women in Hong Kong develop a healthy and happy life style and influence the society through appreciating and identifying with their roles as women. The list of participating organisations and their presentations is follows:
Organisation |
Presentation |
|---|---|
| Yin Ngai Society (Fuk Loi Moon Lok) | Dancing |
| Ripples Action | Bittersweet of Professional Women to Join Voluntary Work |
| Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui Tung Chung Integrated Services | Dancing for a Beautiful Life |
| Hong Kong Islands Women’s Association | Hear The Voices of Youth |
| HKYWCA (Hong Kong Women’s Voice Alumni Association) | “3H” Women Situation |
| Tuen Mun District Women’s Association | Magic of Love |
| Hong Kong Federation of Women Lawyers | Helping Ourselves and Others in Leading Healthy Lives |
| Hong Kong Women Teachers’ Organisation | Women – Shape the Future of Hong Kong |
| Hong Kong Homemakers Alliance | Singing |
| Hong Kong Federation of Women’s Centres – Hearts Talk Drama Group | Drama |
| Women Service Association | Shining on the Stage of Life |
| Shatin Women’s Association Kowloon Women’s Organisations Federation Ltd |
Let Our Dreams Fly |
There were 3 prizes voted by members of the audience on that day. The list of prizes, names of winning presentation and names of organisations is as follows:
Prize |
Name of Presentation |
Name of Organisation |
|---|---|---|
| Best Team Spirit | Let Our Dreams Fly | Kowloon Women’s Organisations Federation Ltd |
| Most Creative Presentation Format |
Drama | Hong Kong Federation of Women’s Centres – Hearts Talk Drama Group |
| Most Appreciated by the Audiences |
Let Our Dreams Fly | Kowloon Women’s Organisations Federation Ltd |
(2) The Conference
The Conference was held on 20 December 2012 at L2, Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. Officiating at the opening ceremony of the Conference were the Acting Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), The Hon John Tsang; the Vice-Chairperson, Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of China and President of the All-China Women’s Federation, Madam Chen Zhili; the Deputy Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the HKSAR, Ms Guo Li; the Vice-president and Member of the Secretariat of the All-China Women’s Federation, Madam Chen Xiurong; the Vice-chairperson, Bureau of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women, Ms Ana Marie L Hernando; the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung; the Permanent Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Miss Annie Tam; and the Chairperson of the WoC, Mrs Lau Kun Lai-kuen, Stella.
There were two plenary sessions at the conference. In the first session, Deputy Director of Office of the National Working Committee on Children and Women under the State Council, Ms Su Fungjie and Mr Matthew Cheung introduced the development in relation to women empowerment in the Mainland and Hong Kong. In the second session, Ms Ana Marie L Hernando and Mrs Stella Lau spoke about the achievements and reflections on balanced participation of women in international arena and Hong Kong.
Participants had active discussion at the eight breakout sessions on various topics including promotion opportunities for women; enhancing the gender awareness of students; promotion of gender mainstreaming; women safety: from prevention of sexual harassment; women and health; participation of women in public decision-making; power of female labour; and women’s development at the district level. Also, a lunch-time talk with the theme“The Making of Colourful and Blissful Women” was organised. While Ms Shelley Lee was the moderator, speakers at the lunch-time talk included Dr Leong Che-hung, Professor Federick Ma, and Ms Sherry Tsai.
A mini-exhibition was also set up alongside the conference to showcase the projects under the Funding Scheme for Women’s Development of WoC. Organisations which had received the funding support filed representatives to introduce their projects and share their experiences with participants. The list of participating organisations and their programmes/activities is as follows:
Women’s Commission stream
Organisation |
Programme/Activity |
|---|---|
| Action for REACH OUT | Integrated Health Education for Female Sex Workers in Hong Kong |
| Bring Me A Book Hong Kong Limited | Read Together, Quality Family Time – Community Outreach Training Project |
| Caritas Community Centre – Aberdeen, Caritas Community – Mok Cheung Sui Kun, Hong Kong Southern District Women’s Association Limited | 《New Era for Ethnic Minority Ladies》- Health Promotion Programme |
| Hong Kong Central and Western District Woman Association | Celebration of the 15th Anniversary of the Establishment of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Stay Beautiful in Menopause |
| Hong Kong Island Women’s Association | Amazing Body, Mind and Soul Women’s Health Project |
| Hong Kong Outlying Islands Women’s Association Ltd | Dream Made Possible in Life |
| Hong Kong Women Christian Council | Mental Health Ambassador Training Programme |
| Hong Kong Women Development Association Limited | “Healthy Eating • Active Sporting” Women’s Health Campaign |
| Hong Kong Women Workers’ Association | Improving the Hardware and Software of a Triple-duty Life |
| HKYWCA Women Affairs Department | Women in S.H.I.N.E. |
| Kowloon Women’s Organisations Federation Limited | You are What You Eat – Make Nutritive Choices for Low-carbon Lifestyle |
| Lok Kwan Social Service | Everybody Gets Healthy! |
| Po Leung Kuk | Holistic Health Project for Women |
| Sai Kung and Tseung Kwan O Women’s Association Limited | Enjoy a Pleasing and Delightful Life with Full Awareness of Physical and Mental Health |
| Shamshuipo (South) Integrated Family Service Centre, International Social Service HK Branch | Community Care by Ripples Action |
| The Hong Kong Federation of Trade Union Women Affairs Committee | Live Out the Gap |
| Tuen Mun District Women’s Association Limited | Spectrum Care – Women’s Community Volunteer Leadership Training Initiative |
| Well Women Clinic of Tung Wah Group Hospital | Campaign on “Women’s Health, Body and Mind” |
| Women Service Association | Women Revitalization |
| Zonta Club of Hong Kong | Embracing Your Life : Enjoy a Beautiful Life (Body, Mind and Spiritual Wellness Project) |
District Council stream
District Council |
Organisation |
Programme/Activity |
|---|---|---|
| Central & Western |
Hong Kong Central and Western District Woman Association | Celebration of the 15th Anniversary of the Establishment of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Breast Cancer Prevention Campaign |
| Eastern | Carnation Women’s Association | Magnificent Life of Women in Eastern District |
| The Brightening Association (Hong Kong) Limited | Community Education | |
| Southern | The Hong Kong Southern District Community Women Association Activities Organizing Committee | Colourful Life Training Campaign |
| Wan Chai | Wan Chai Yin Ngai Society | Femme@Wanchai |
| Kowloon City | Lok Sin Tong Benevolent Society, Kowloon | Arousing Health Awareness among Ethnic Minority Women in Kowloon City |
| Kwun Tong | Hong Kong Christian Service Kwun Tong Happy Teens Club | Healthy Nation•Happy Map |
| Sham Shui Po | Ching Fai Women Association Limited | Building & Bonding – Women Leadership Project |
| Yau Tsim Mong | Working Group on Women’s Affairs of Yau Tsim Mong District Council | “Women Wellness Programme” Sharing Day cum Movie Appreciation |
| Wong Tai Sin | We’re Family Association | Gender Equality and Health Plan |
| Islands | Community Affairs, Culture and Recreation Committee Working Group of Islands District Council | Islands District Women Development Scheme – Enhancement Programme Through Community Building |
| Kwai Tsing | Harmonevergreen Service Association Limited | Beauty & Fitness School |
| Kwai Shing Community Service Association | Energetic and Delightful Life Programme | |
| On Yam Estate Community Service Association | You Light Up My Life (Kwai Tsing Women College) | |
| Tsing Yi Community Express | Computer and Internet Training Course for Women | |
| Union of Women (Cheung On) | Women Training Course | |
| North | North District Women’s Association Limited | Healthy Living Programme |
| Sai Kung | Sai Kung District Community Centre | Healthy Eating & Happy Life |
| Sha Tin | Working Group on Community Involvement by Women under the Culture, Sports & Community Development Committee, Sha Tin District Council | Women Volunteers Programme |
| Tai Po | Wisenice Club | “Modern Women’s Health Issue” Programme |
| Tsuen Wan | Fuk Loi Moon Lok Yin Ngai Society | Women Enhancement Programme |
| Tuen Mun | Tuen Mun District Women’s Association Limited | Sunshine Action in Tuen Mun |
| Yuen Long | Yuen Long District Women’s Association Limited | Healthy Living Carnival |