A senior population official told a workshop at the Beijing Plus Ten conference in the capital yesterday that Chinese women have been empowered to play an important role in sustainable development by the government's family planning program.

"It is proven that by practicing family planning, women have shaken off burdens resulting from excessive births, are able to participate extensively and proactively in public affairs in economic and social fields and have enjoyed continuing enhancement of their status in political, economic, social and family lives," said Zhao Baige, vice minister of the National Population and Family Planning Commission.

Zhao said there had been a shift in the implementation of the population and family planning program in the past decade from administrative and social restrictions to quality of care and social support.

She said reproductive health rights are important but often easily ignored next to other women's rights, and are a development and a human rights issue.

"As we say in China, women hold up half the sky, and they constitute a significant driving force of social and economic development," said Zhao.

Zhao said women should win respect from society by enhancing their self-development and active participation in social progress, and government should promote equality awareness and ensure women enjoy equal rights in policy making, employment, health and education.

(China.org.cn by staff reporter Zhang Tingting, September 1, 2005)