The United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) recently hosted its 70th annual Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70) at its New York City headquarters.
The Women’s General Association of Macau (commonly known as Fu Luen) sent a 16-member exchange group to participate in the session’s side events, according to an association statement released on 26 March.
The statement highlighted that this was the largest delegation ever sent by the association to the event. The 11-day meeting took place between March 9 and 19.
According to the UN Women website, the theme of this year’s commission was “Ensuring and strengthening access to justice for all women and girls, including by promoting inclusive and equitable legal systems, eliminating discriminatory laws, policies and practices, and addressing structural barriers”.
The Post interviewed two members of the exchange group, Olivia Lao Cheuk Chi and Shirley Ao Sut Ieng, last Tuesday at Fu Luen’s headquarters on Rua da Barca. Both women, who were participating in the Commission for the first time, spoke about their experiences of promoting Macau and traditional Chinese culture on the international stage.
Global gender equality comparison
Lao and Ao, members of Fu Luen’s “International Affairs Training Programme”, explained that their team spoke about Macau’s progress in women’s development under the “One Country, Two Systems” framework during a parallel session.
The training programme offers a wide range of workshops on communication skills, etiquette, and the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Lao noted that their presentation covered family-friendly policies, gender equality milestones, and support systems for dual-income families.
During the event, the group exchanged views with participants from Africa, Portuguese-speaking countries (PSCs), and other regions. Lao highlighted Macau’s unique role as a platform for commercial, economic, and cultural relations between China and the world’s nine PSCs. Meanwhile, Ao noted that while Macau boasts a high level of gender equality, significant room for further progress remains.
Both representatives expressed hope that international exchanges would allow Macau to adopt global best practices to continue advancing women’s rights locally.
‘Artisan Fair’ at the UN
In addition to the formal sessions, the team hosted a booth themed “Traditional Chinese Culture”. It showcased crochet handicrafts made by Macau volunteers, including pet collars and cheongsam-style (旗袍) keyrings.
Ao said an interactive “fortune-telling” activity also proved popular with international participants. Each fortune slip carried a message promoting gender equality, such as the equal status of maternal and paternal surnames.
Lao added that the booth featured a handmade wall hanging created by a group of volunteers in their 70s. The piece integrated elements of the Ruins of St Paul’s with Chinese cultural motifs. International attendees were invited to help decorate the piece, symbolising global inclusion and cooperation.
According to Ao, attendees were deeply moved by the stories behind the handicrafts – some of which took dozens of hours to complete – and purchased the items in a show of support. All proceeds will be donated to relevant UN funds.
‘Take the first step’
Lao and Ao admitted that standing on the United Nations stage felt “real yet surreal”. They attributed the success of the journey to years of preparation through international affairs training and exchange activities in the Chinese mainland.
Lao suggested that people in Macau are often modest and sometimes require an “invitation” or a specific “opportunity” to take the first step. She expressed hope that more local young people would take the initiative to engage in international affairs.
Ao urged local youth to stay informed, read broadly, and cultivate critical thinking. By doing so, she argued, they can arm themselves with knowledge, overcome language barriers, and gain the confidence to appear on the global stage.
Macau Women’s General Association’s (Fu Luen) 70th annual Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70) exchange group members Olivia Lao Cheuk Chi (left) and Shirley Ao Sut Ieng pose after an interview on March 31 at Fu Luen’s headquarters on Rua da Barca. – Photo: Armindo Neves
Photos taken between March 9 and 19 at the United Nations in New York City courtesy of Fu Luen.
