Title: Demonstrating the wisdom and power of "half the sky" - Chinese women's equal participation in the construction of socialist democracy and the rule of law

Xinhua News Agency reporters Qi Qi, Feng Jiashun, Yang Chi

In promoting the practice of people's democracy throughout the process, our country attaches great importance to improving women's participation in the management of national and economic, cultural and social affairs. The majority of women enjoy equal political rights and actively participate in democratic practices. The path to the development of democracy and the rule of law is filled with the wisdom and power of "half the sky" and shines with the brilliance of an era in which "women are not inferior to men."

They perform their duties in accordance with the law and insist on speaking out for the people - Zhu Guoping, secretary of the Party branch of Pingju Studio in Changning District, Shanghai, who has been elected as a deputy to the National People's Congress for three consecutive terms, is an outstanding representative of Shanghai's "alley prime minister". Over the years, she has put forward a number of suggestions focusing on elderly care, child care, and medical care, vividly explaining the original mission of the people's representatives for the people.

Next to Hongchu Community in Changning District, Shanghai, Pingju Studio is always crowded with people. This is the contact point for grassroots legislation in Hongqiao Street. Zhu Guoping leads community residents to actively participate in the formulation and revision of laws. “Being able to provide opinions on legislation gives everyone a sense of participation,” Zhu Guoping said.

Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, the depth and breadth of women’s participation in the management of national and social affairs has continued to expand.

Data show that among the deputies to the 14th National People’s Congress, members of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference and representatives to the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, the proportion of women has reached a record high. According to the white paper "China's Practice and Achievements in Promoting the Comprehensive Development of Women in the New Era", from 2018 to 2025, women representatives of the National People's Congress submitted a total of 29,328 suggestions, criticisms and opinions, accounting for 42.3% of the total suggestions; since the 14th session, female members of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference have submitted 4,282 proposals, accounting for 26.6% of the total proposals.

Behind the data is the widespread participation of women in political discussions and democratic decision-making. The power of women is becoming an indispensable and important part of the national governance system.

They make suggestions and participate in decision-making and governance - The Shanquan Water Factory located in Jiangmen Village, Angui Township, Rongshui Miao Autonomous County, Guangxi, is a busy production scene.

This is the first village-run enterprise in Jiangmen Village that was officially put into operation at the beginning of this year. It was built under the leadership and promotion of Yang Ning, secretary of the Party branch of Jiangmen Village and director of the village committee.

“The construction of the factory has not only increased the income of the village collective, but also provided nearby employment opportunities for the villagers.” Yang Ning said that in the next step, she will continue to lead the village collective to continue to develop various agricultural products and expand the rural research industry, so that the villagers’ “pockets” will become more and more generous and their smiles will increase.

Yang Ning’s story is a vivid epitome of countless women cadres.

Since the new era, our country has revised laws and regulations such as the Organic Law of Villagers’ Committees and the Organic Law of Urban Residents’ Committees, and has continuously improved village rules and regulations and residents’ covenants, providing a solid guarantee for the majority of women to participate equally in the most authentic, broad and effective democratic practice.

Data show that in the 10 years from 2012 to 2022, the proportion of women among village committee members nationwide increased by 4 percentage points; the proportion of women among neighborhood committee members increased by 5.5 percentage points. Female employees actively participate in the democratic management of enterprises. In 2023, female employee directors will account for 37.7% of employee directors on the enterprise's board of directors, an increase of 11.4 percentage points from 2012; female employee representatives will account for 34.2% of the enterprise's employee representatives, an increase of 4.4 percentage points from 2012.

In every aspect of democratic decision-making, "Half the Sky" contributes its youth with vivid and ingenious ideas and actively makes suggestions with a loud voice.

They held scales in their hands to safeguard fairness and justice--recovering vegetable farmers' vegetable money was the first case Song Yushui, deputy director of the Beijing Intellectual Property Court, handled when he first started working. And she was always very moved when she talked about how the vegetable farmer was moved to tears because he got back a meager wad of money.

"Do not despise the trial of small-amount cases; do not despise vulnerable groups, treat every party fairly; do not despise any rights of the parties, and fully respect the dignity and interests of the parties." This is Song Yushui's "three chapters of the law" to himself, and it is also the most solemn commitment to every party involved.

Filing cases, court hearings, dispute mediation... On the road to the development of democracy and the rule of law, our country attaches great importance to the training and selection of female cadres and the development of female party members.

The white paper "China's Practice and Achievements in Promoting the Comprehensive Development of Women in the New Era" shows that 42.3% of judges nationwide are female, 43.78% of prosecutors nationwide are female, and 51.5% of jurors nationwide are female.

Wisdom and professionalism, patience and delicacy. "Her power" interprets the majesty and warmth of the law and effectively safeguards social fairness and justice.

They have ingenious ideas to resolve conflicts and disputes——As the times call, they are "all-rounders" active in grassroots governance.

Every morning, in the "Deqing Sisters" mediation studio of the Deqing County Comprehensive Management Center in Huzhou City, Zhejiang Province, the "Deqing Sisters" put on their rose-red vests, picked up their mediator certificates, and prepared to start a busy day of work.

Parents have no small problems, and conflicts and disputes are resolved skillfully. The "Deqing Sisters" play an irreplaceable role in resolving conflicts and disputes at the grassroots level.

Gather "her power", solve thousands of knots skillfully, and discuss a happy home together. At present, our country has more than 430,000 women's councils, more than 7 million women's federation executive members, and more than 24 million registered women volunteers active in urban and rural communities, resolving conflicts at the "doorstep", delivering services "to the heart", and integrating family education and family tradition into daily life.

With the development of the times, "her" figure shines.

From the mediation of conflicts and disputes, to the construction of spiritual civilization, to participation in social governance... Make good use of "her wisdom" and gather "her power". In the new era, women actively participate in social governance and decision-making, injecting indispensable surging momentum into the modernization of the national governance system and governance capabilities, and joining hands to create a beautiful new chapter in women's development!