At least one woman member should be included in each village committee and more measures should be taken to raise the political status of Chinese women, according to the draft amendment to the Law on Protection of Women's Rights and Interests.

The draft amendment was submitted for the first deliberation to the ongoing 16th session of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislature, from June 26 to July 1.

Although China has made huge achievement in the protection of women's rights and interests, there are still some long-term backward aspects in the country's women protection affairs, said Mo Wenxiu, vice chairwoman of the All-China Women's Federation (ACWF).

The proportion of woman deputies to the NPC has been about 20 percent since 1978 with its ranking in the world down from the 12th in 1994 to the 37th in 2004. By the end of 2003, the proportion of woman members in village committees was less than 20percent while the woman village head only covered one percent of the total, sources with the ADWF said.

"The current law has already included the clauses of protecting the woman's political rights, but the provisions are too empty to be implemented," said Mo.

All important policies involving woman's rights and interests should first listen to the opinions of the woman groups before implementation, according to the draft amendment, which also adds some concrete clauses to guarantee the woman's political rights.

"The draft amendment aims to ensure the gradual improvement of Chinese women's political rights," said Mo.

(Xinhua News Agency June 27, 2005)