Women In Motion 2.0: Enhancing career development for women and strengthening action against gender-based discrimination, bias and stereotypes in the workplace in China

This executive summary outlines the Women In Motion 2.0 project, led by UN Women China in partnership with the ILO China and Mongolia and funded by the European Union, operating in pilot provinces to be selected from Shaanxi, Jiangsu, and Guangdong. Building on a successful first phase, the project responds to the reality that while China has over three hundred twenty million female workers, more than forty percent of the workforce, and has enacted laws to protect women's employment rights, gender discrimination and workplace harassment persist. Aligned with CEDAW, International Labour Standards, the Beijing Declaration, and China's Outline for the Development of Women, the project leverages the UN Women-ILO partnership to advance women's career development and eliminate gender-based inequities. The overarching goal secures decent, safe, and non-discriminatory working conditions for women, focusing on young women and those with disabilities, contributing to SDGs 1, 5, 8, and 10. Three key outputs frame the project: enhancing employability and rights awareness through lifelong learning, strengthening institutional capacity among governments and employers to foster inclusive workplaces via WEPs and ESG frameworks, and shifting social norms by mobilizing stakeholders to challenge stereotypes. Implementation follows a phased roadmap. Rapid baseline research assesses needs of women workers and enterprises. Customized training modules cover soft skills, digital, AI, green competencies, legal literacy, and leadership. A national group standard is developed for employers to curb discrimination. Stakeholder capacity building delivers toolkits and training, while enterprise mechanisms are improved to prevent sexual harassment. Two high-level policy dialogues advocate for family-friendly policies. Direct beneficiaries include approximately thirty thousand women, employees of three hundred enterprises, employers, trade unions, and male workers. Core targets train at least two hundred women, achieve eighty percent reporting improved awareness and skills, build capacities for one hundred representatives, deliver two dialogues, and develop three toolkits. UN Women China leads, with ILO as strategic technical partner, joined by government bodies, women's federations, disability organizations, and research institutions. The project bridges international commitments and local practices, combining policy advocacy and capacity building to address systemic barriers. By focusing on young women and those with disabilities, it addresses intersecting disadvantages. Institutional capacity building ensures sustainable change beyond the project period. The national group standard provides a replicable framework, while training modules and toolkits serve as lasting resources. Collaboration with the EU provides financial support and a global perspective. Alignment with the SDGs reinforces international contribution, while resonance with China's policies ensures local ownership. Focus on shifting social norms addresses root causes of discrimination. Enterprise-level interventions create immediate improvements while demonstrating the business case for gender equality. Training for officials strengthens enforcement. Attention to digital, AI, and green competencies prepares women for future jobs. Family-friendly policies address care responsibilities. Commitment to monitoring and evaluation ensures accountability. Women In Motion 2.0 thus represents a comprehensive effort to transform Chinese workplaces, contributing to gender equality and decent work. The project's success depends on active partner engagement, but its design positions it to make a lasting difference in the lives of women workers and in China's broader labour market.

Project symbol

CHN/26/01/UNW

Admin unit

CO-Beijing

Start date

__EMPTY__

End date

__EMPTY__

Total allocation

200000

Total expenditure

Status

Active

0

Development Partners

United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women

Country/Countries

China

Outcomes

Outcome 5: Gender equality and equality of treatment and opportunities for all