India got elected as a Member of the UN Commission on the Status of Women. This is a principal global body whose main focus is on gender equality and women empowerment. It is a significant victory for India as the country beat China in a very important election.
The Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) is a functional commission of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). The 54-member ECOSOC on September 14 held elections for two seats in the Asia-Pacific states category. Three countries, Afghanistan, India, and China were in the contest for the two seats. Afghanistan led by Ambassador Adela Raz at the UN got 39 votes. India managed to get 38 votes out of the 54 ballot cast.
China the permanent member of the UN Security Council managed only 27 votes. They could not even cross the half-way mark. They failed to get the required majority of 28 votes.
India beat China in the election to the prestigious UN body. They achieved the feat when the 25th Anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women was commemorated around the world.
The election result is a strong signal about China’s own record of women’s equality and empowerment. It is highly notable that China lost the election. India and Afghanistan will join Argentina, Austria, Dominican Republic, Israel, Latvia, Nigeria, Zambia, and Turkey. These countries were elected for a four-year term. Their term will begin from 2021 and end in 2025.
The Commission on the Status of Women is instrumental in promoting women’s rights. It is responsible for documenting the reality of women’s lives throughout the world. And also in shaping global standards on gender equality and the empowerment of women.
Also Read: India-China border dispute: A brief history of Sino-India conflicts