The European Union and UN Women have jointly launched Women in Motion 2.0, a four-year programme to advance women's economic empowerment and promote gender-responsive and inclusive workplaces in China. Announced on 15 July 2026, World Youth Skills Day, the programme aims to expand women's access to skills development, lifelong learning and labour rights awareness, with a focus on young women and women with disabilities. It will also support employers in adopting gender-responsive policies and practices and creating safe, family-friendly workplaces, while engaging stakeholders to promote equitable gender norms and end discrimination.
The programme is funded by the EU and builds on the first phase of Women in Motion (2023–2025), which supported 63 enterprises across the textile, ICT and automobile sectors, reaching approximately 200,000 employees and directly benefiting 11,886 women workers through skills development. The new phase will be implemented by UN Women in partnership with the China Enterprise Confederation, the China Disabled Persons' Federation, the International Labour Organization and the Inno Community Development Organisation, with Caixin Video as a strategic media partner. Additional collaboration with sector associations, women's organisations, organisations of persons with disabilities and academia is expected to amplify impact.
Baseline findings from the programme, covering over 60 enterprises primarily in Shaanxi and Jiangsu provinces, show encouraging progress: over two-thirds of enterprises offer women access to industry exchanges and training, and basic family-leave provisions are widely in place. However, progress remains uneven — most enterprises have not yet prohibited gender discrimination in promotion decisions, existing parental and family care leave is often underused, and anti-sexual harassment mechanisms remain largely reactive rather than preventive. A complementary survey of more than 3,000 employees identified key support needs including fair and transparent promotion and pay, flexible working arrangements, and stronger career development support including AI-relevant skills.
At the launch, Chu Q. Wang, Head of Office (ad interim) of UN Women China Office, said: "As AI and digital transformation reshape China's workplaces, we must ensure these shifts open doors for women, particularly women with disabilities, rather than create new barriers." EU Ambassador to China Jorge Toledo highlighted the success of the first phase and noted that the next chapter will expand reach to vulnerable groups of women, addressing new challenges in new regions and industries.
The programme is grounded in international conventions China has signed onto and contributes to the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework for China 2026-2030, aligning with national priorities such as the employment-first strategy and high-quality development under the 15th Five-Year Plan, as well as China's Law on the Protection of Women's Rights and Interests. Women now account for over 43 per cent of China's labour force, yet many face barriers including harmful stereotypes, discriminatory hiring practices and limited workplace support.
women workers, particularly young women and women with disabilities, stand to gain improved access to skills and labour rights; employers will receive support to adopt gender-responsive policies, potentially improving productivity and retention; government and industry associations are engaged in coordinated action; and civil society organisations will help drive systemic change.