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Press Release

Women’s Commission releases Report on Hong Kong Women’s Development Goals

Women’s Commission released today (December 15) the Report on Hong Kong Women’s Development Goals.

The Report provides a systematic plan for the promotion of Hong Kong women’s continuous development. It aims to address the community’s concerns and aspirations about women’s issues in a consolidated manner, and suggest a common direction for the development of women in Hong Kong by consolidating views from different quarters of the community. The Report has proposed 14 goals and 36 strategies (Annex) in the areas of participation in decision making, health, safety, education, economics and system for women’s development.

“I am pleased to announce the successful completion of the formulation of Hong Kong women’s development goals and the publication of the Report. The Hong Kong women’s development goals represent common goals which will be useful for the Government and various sectors to respond and endeavour towards the building of a better and harmonious society with gender equality.” said the Chairperson of the Commission, Ms Sophia Kao.

“The 14 goals and 36 strategies suggested in the Report are the results of extensive consultations with representatives of women’s groups and relevant non-governmental organisations, discussions with the Government bureaux/departments concerned, and the careful deliberations by the Task Force set up by the Women’s Commission. They represent a shared view on the key issues concerning women and practical ways to further promote women’s interests in Hong Kong.”

Apart from the 14 goals and 36 strategies at Annex, Chapter 4 of the Report also sets out some issues that should not be overlooked for the long-term development of women, notwithstanding that our society has yet to reach a general consensus on them.

“I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to all the groups, organisations, individuals, and Government bureaux and departments who/which have contributed views and ideas to this Report. We hope that the 14 goals and 36 strategies suggested in the Report are, by all standards, practical and effective, and can as far as possible solve relevant problems at source in a pragmatic and result-oriented approach, and that they will be ultimately included in the overall development plans of Hong Kong.”

The Women’s Commission was set up on January 15, 2001, as a central mechanism to promote the well-being and interests of women in Hong Kong. It plays a strategic role in advising the Government on policies and initiatives on women's issues. The Commission set up a Task Force in late 2009 to study key issues concerning women’s interests, with a view to suggesting to the Government the goals and strategies for women’s development.

Women’s Commission
December 15, 2011

Download Executive Summary of Women’s Development Goals and Strategies and reference materials (Content in Chinese only)

 

Annex

Hong Kong Women’s Development Goals and Strategies

Proposed by the Women’s Commission

Participation in Decision Making		Women’s Development Goal 1: Enhance women’s participation in decision making in public affairs Proposed Strategies 1.1 Encourage all women to register as voters 1.2 Remind political parties of the importance of women’s participation in policy making and encourage them to nominate more female members to run for elections 1.3 Enhance the awareness of gender issues of both the election candidates and voters 1.4 The Home Affairs Department to issue guidelines to the 18 District Councils (DCs), advising them to approve all leave applications from female DC members due to pregnancy or postnatal care, and to consider proposing relevant amendments with more gender perspective when reviewing the Sample DC Standing Orders in the future 1.5 Encourage women, retirees in particular, to participate in public and community service
		Women’s Development Goal 2: Promote a balanced gender composition in advisory and statutory bodies Proposed Strategy 2.1 Enhance public awareness of and interests in advisory and statutory bodies (ASBs), with a view to increasing women’s participation in ASBs
Health		Women’s Development Goal 3: Enhance health education of women as well as their understanding of relevant services Proposed Strategies 3.1 Promote healthy lifestyle, including awareness of diet, exercise and mental health 3.2 Enhance education on the prevention of injuries due to household duties, and encouraging division of labour of such duties 3.3 Produce a guide to women’s health services to promote relevant services provided by Women Health Centres (WHCs) and Maternal and Child Health Centres (MCHCs), non-governmental organisations and women’s groups and assist the Department of Health in disseminating information on women’s health to the public
		Women’s Development Goal 4: Enhance women’s awareness of breast cancer Proposed Strategies 4.1 Strengthen publicity on understanding and preventing breast cancer 4.2 Study the feasibility of conducting a survey on public acceptance and the effectiveness of introducing a population-based breast screening programme using mammography
		Women’s Development Goal 5: Improve medical facilities for disabled women Proposed Strategy 5.1 Increase the number of gynecological examination tables for the disabled in WHCs and MCHCs
Safety		Women’s Development Goal 6: Strengthen support for victims of domestic and sexual violence Proposed Strategies 6.1 Monitor the implementation of the Domestic and Cohabitation Relationships Violence Ordinance, as well as the progress made by the Government in respect of legislating against stalking 6.2 Monitor the usage of women refuge centres, and increase the number of accommodation places in such centres when necessary 6.3 Strengthen the support for new arrival women in order to prevent family tragedies 6.4 Enhance training for front-line professionals
		Women’s Development Goal 7: Strengthen education for women and raise their awareness of violence and safety, with a view to fostering a culture of “zero tolerance to violence” Proposed Strategies 7.1 Raise the awareness of working women on sexual harassment, and strengthen their ability in coping with / handling sexual harassment 7.2 Assist the new arrival, ethnic minority and disabled women in understanding their rights and support services available to them 7.3 Raise women’s awareness of their own rights 7.4 Enhance education on the prevention of sexual violence/dating violence in primary and secondary schools as well as tertiary institutions
Education		Women’s Development Goal 8: Promote and facilitate all-round and life-long learning of women, and enhance their leadership skills Proposed Strategies 8.1 Provide more publicly-funded degree places or facilitate the development of self-financing degree programmes in order to address the articulation needs of sub-degree graduates 8.2 Continue to provide financial assistance as appropriate to help women in need pursue continuing education 8.3 Continue to provide flexible courses and further enhance their flexibilities to cater for the needs of homemakers and new immigrant women, with a view to providing them with more channels of learning and acquiring accredited qualifications 8.4 Strengthen the Capacity Building Mileage Programme 8.5 Study the needs of homemakers in pursuing life-long learning and in re-entering to the labour market
		Women’s Development Goal 9: Strengthen gender and parent education Proposed Strategies 9.1 Strengthen gender education within and outside schools 9.2 Allocate additional resources to strengthen parent education
Economics		Women’s Development Goal 10: Step up measures which are conducive to enhancing women’s economic status Proposed Strategies 10.1 Enhance the promotion of Family-Friendly Employment Policies and Practices 10.2 Strengthen diversified and flexible childcare services
		Women’s Development Goal 11: Eliminate discrimination against the working ability of women Proposed Strategies 11.1 Encourage greater promotion opportunities for women in private organisations
		Women’s Development Goal 12: Strengthen protection for part-time employees Proposed Strategies 12.1 Review the employment situation of and protection for employees not engaged under a continuous contract under the Employment Ordinance
System for Women’s Development		Women’s Development Goal 13: Study the needs and strategies in further promoting women’s development Proposed Strategies 13.1 Study ways to enhance the collaboration model between WoC and women’s groups 13.2 Strengthen research on gender-related issues
		Women’s Development Goal 14: Further the implementation of gender mainstreaming within and outside the government Proposed Strategies 14.1 Monitor the implementation of gender mainstreaming 14.2 Raise gender awareness and sensitivity of public officers through strengthening relevant training 14.3 Strengthen public education and promote gender mainstreaming outside the Government