Speaking at a global women's summit in Beijing on Monday, October 13, 2025, Chinese President Xi Jinping highlighted what he termed "historic achievements" in women's rights across China over the past three decades. He noted a nearly 80% reduction in maternal mortality rates and an unprecedented level of women's participation in national governance.

The summit, held on Monday and Tuesday, October 13 and 14, 2025, commemorated the 30th anniversary of the landmark UN World Conference on Women, which took place in Beijing in 1995. During that historic conference, then-US First Lady Hillary Clinton delivered her influential "women's rights are human rights" speech, a statement frequently cited by women's rights advocates in China.

President Xi announced China's commitment of an additional $10 million (approximately KSh 1.4 billion) to UN Women, the United Nations' gender-equality agency, over the next five years. Furthermore, China will earmark $100 million (approximately KSh 14 billion) from its Global Development and South-South Cooperation Fund for projects promoting women's and girls' development in collaboration with international organisations.

Despite these pronouncements of progress and international contributions, a contrasting narrative emerges from the experiences of Chinese feminists. Activists report increasing difficulties in advocating for or even discussing women's rights within the country.

Lü Pin, a prominent Chinese feminist activist now based in New Jersey, stated that while many young women in China identify as feminists and practice feminist choices in their personal lives, public feminist activities, including discussion, policy advocacy, accountability, and collective action, are severely restricted. Lü Pin founded an influential feminist organisation in China that was forced to close in 2018.

Lü Pin relocated to the United States in 2015 after several of her associates, known as the "Feminist Five," were detained in China. The "Feminist Five" — Li Maizi (Li Tingting), Wei Tingting, Zheng Churan, Wu Rongrong, and Wang Man — were arrested in March 2015 for planning a protest against sexual harassment on public transport ahead of International Women's Day. They were detained for 37 days and faced charges of "gathering a crowd to disturb public order."

Under President Xi's leadership, China has seen a sweeping crackdown on civil society and a noticeable shift towards patriarchal politics. In 2022, for the first time since 1997, the Politburo, the executive body of the Chinese Communist Party, included no women.

The Chinese government has intensified efforts to suppress various forms of dissent, including human rights lawyers and feminist movements. Online feminist groups have also faced renewed crackdowns, with platforms like Douban shutting down forums deemed to promote "extreme" or "radical" views.

China's constitution, enacted in 1954, stipulates equal rights for women and men, and over 100 laws and regulations have been formulated or amended to safeguard women's rights. The Anti-Domestic Violence Law, enacted in 2016, provides legal mechanisms against domestic violence. However, despite legal frameworks, gender-based violence and discrimination persist.

The United Nations, in 2023, expressed concern over the absence of women in China's top leadership and recommended the adoption of statutory quotas and a gender parity system to accelerate equal representation in government.

Evidence/Data

• Maternal Mortality Rate: China's maternal mortality rate decreased by nearly 80% since 1995. In 2024, the maternal mortality rate was 14.3 per 100,000 live births.
• UN Women Donation: China pledged an additional $10 million to UN Women over the next five years.
• Global Development Fund: China will earmark $100 million from the Global Development and South-South Cooperation Fund for women and girls' development projects.
• Women in Politburo: In 2022, for the first time since 1997, no women were appointed to China's Politburo.

Risks and Implications

The simultaneous promotion of women's achievements on the international stage and the suppression of domestic feminist activism presents a complex image of China's approach to gender equality. This dual strategy risks undermining genuine efforts towards women's empowerment by stifling independent voices and critical discourse necessary for addressing persistent inequalities. The lack of female representation in top political bodies also raises concerns about the inclusivity of decision-making processes and the potential for policies to adequately address women's specific needs and challenges.

Unknowns and Controversies

The exact number of feminist activists currently detained or under surveillance in China remains unknown due to the opaque nature of such crackdowns. The long-term impact of the suppression of independent feminist movements on the broader landscape of women's rights advocacy in China is also a subject of ongoing concern and debate among international observers and human rights organisations.

What to Watch

Observers will be closely watching for any shifts in China's domestic policies regarding feminist activism and civil society engagement, particularly in light of its international commitments and pronouncements on women's rights. The implementation and impact of the pledged financial contributions to UN Women and the Global Development and South-South Cooperation Fund will also be scrutinised for their effectiveness in genuinely advancing gender equality globally.