11 July 2006

Beijing, China: Two hundred students from over 20 universities and colleges in Beijing have become youth volunteers to advocate the concept of "a girl is as good as a boy", particularly among rural areas.

At Monday's initiation ceremony of the volunteer program, Ma Ming, executive chairman of the Beijing student federation, said that the volunteers will call for the respect and protection of women's legal rights when they return to their hometowns during the summer holiday.

They will also take part in a survey on the living conditions of girls, a move designed to offer suggestions on handling China's rising sex ratio imbalance.

In China, especially its vast countryside, sons are traditionally preferred which has resulted in many prospective parents chosing to have an abortion if tests have shown it to be a girl.

As a result there are 119 boys born for every 100 girls in China, much higher than a global ratio of 102-107 boys to 100 girls.

Zhang Weiqing, minister in charge of the State Commission for Population and Family Planning, said that the rising gender imbalance is not unique in China, but China will take on other countries' experiences and hope to work for a world of gender equality through its practice.

The college students' actions also coincide with this year's theme of "Young People" for the 17th World Population Day falling on Tuesday, which embodies the message of calling on young people to take action.