Raising men's participation in women development undertakings is a crucial element in promoting women development, said women representatives attending a meeting commemorating the tenth anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women.

Anamah Tan, president of the International Council of Women, said at the Beijing Plus Ten meeting that male remains dominant in most societies despite years of efforts of many governments to raise women's social status, which necessitates that more men should be involved in women's development cause to know about women's needs and change concepts prejudiced against women.

"We have to change traditional male concepts against women and persuade them to take part in women's cause, to change culture, traditions and customs bad for women," she said.

She stressed that women must take initiative in the process and do not give up easily.

Noeleen Heyzer, executive director of the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM), noted sexual violence against women in her speech. She said that transforming power relationships and strengthening women's organizing to address the social and economic causes of gender violence should include men as partners.

According to UNIFEM, a number of countries and regions have clearly outlined the number of women participating in political sectors to increase women's representation in political decision-making.

"We recognize that genuine gender equality will only be achieved through full partnership with our male colleagues. A gender policy that is not grounded in the mutual cooperation of both genders, or one that works to exclude one gender, is bound to fail," said Dr. Jang Hajin, minister of Gender Equality and Familyof South Korea.

More than 800 women representatives around the world have come to attend the Aug. 29 to Sep. 1 meeting in Beijing.

(Xinhua News Agency August 31, 2005)