By Xinhua | Dar es Salaam, October 9, 2025
Gertrude Mongella, the Secretary-General of the historic Fourth World Conference on Women held in Beijing in 1995, believes that no vision for a better life in the 21st century can be achieved without meaningful progress in women’s empowerment — a goal, she says, that demands women’s greater contributions of wisdom and strength.
“What we are waiting for now,” she told Xinhua in an interview in Dar es Salaam, “is the continued implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action adopted in 1995.”
As the world marks the 30th anniversary of the landmark Beijing conference, global leaders are set to convene in the Chinese capital once again next week, with Mongella among them — returning not only to a place, but to a promise.
“I have always said that I brought Beijing home,” Mongella reflected. “I want to see more of the ‘Beijing work’ take root in Tanzania.” After the 1995 conference, she personally presented the Beijing documents to then-President Benjamin Mkapa, determined to turn ideas into tangible change. “What women want,” she said, “is to see these ideas realized in their daily lives.”
Mongella recalled that during the Beijing conference, the world began encouraging women to embrace computers and information technology — tools that remain critical today. Yet, she lamented, many African women still struggle to advance due to limited access to basic literacy and numeracy skills.
“Literacy and education are the twin keys,” she emphasized, “that unlock the gates to women’s empowerment.”
Reflecting on her experience with Chinese women, Mongella spoke admiringly: “Chinese women are industrious and innovative. I’ve seen them engage deeply in education, industry, and particularly the textile sector. They are also active contributors to China’s progress in science and technology.”
That, she said, has strengthened her belief in women’s transformative power.
“The development of women must keep pace with the development of the world,” Mongella stressed. “We live in an era of artificial intelligence, rapid technological change, and new digital realities. Women must not be left behind. When we return to Beijing, we must study these issues with utmost seriousness.”
Mongella urged governments and societies to redouble efforts in fulfilling the commitments of the Beijing Platform, encouraging Chinese and African women to deepen cooperation in sharing knowledge and technology “so the world can advance together.”
She highlighted the success of Juncao technology — introduced to Tanzania by Chinese experts — which has helped many Tanzanian women rise from poverty. “Through Juncao,” she said, “women found new hope, new confidence, and a path toward self-reliance and empowerment.”
Having served as the UN’s leading voice for women’s development, Mongella reflected on her lifelong mission:
“Throughout my career, I’ve done two main things — carried the voice of women to wider spaces, and brought the spirit of the conference into local communities.”
Now, three decades later, she insists the world must take stock — celebrating progress, confronting setbacks, and ensuring genuine action.
“Beijing gave us the plan,” she concluded. “Today’s summit is about renewing that plan — and holding the world accountable for the work ahead.”
