At the invitation of the United Nation Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women, Dr. Ellen Qiongzhao, Director of the American Goddess Art Museum and Vice Chairperson of the Rodin International Artists Foundation, attended the 68th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York from March 11th to 22nd, 2024. She exchanged ideas with Nyaradzayi Gumbonzvanda, Deputy Executive Director of the UN Women, and outstanding women from all over the world, including women representatives from Beijing, China.

       On March 18th, Ellen attended the World Women's Entrepreneurship Forum and the award ceremony at the Diplomatic Banquet Hall of the United Nations Headquarters in New York, where she was honored with the "World Art and Culture Achievement Award" and delivered a speech titled Enhancing Social Awareness and Building a Just Environment for Women Entrepreneurs.

       The following is the full text of Dr. Ellen Qiongzhao's speech:

       “Today, I stand here with a profound sense of responsibility and mission to discuss a vitally important issue with you all—how to enhance social recognition and build a fair environment for entrepreneurial women. This is not only a matter of gender equality but also a subject related to social progress and innovative development.

       In today's rapidly developing era, entrepreneurship has become an important force driving economic growth and promoting social innovation. However, when we talk about entrepreneurs, we often unconsciously associate them with the brave, tenacious male image. Such deep-rooted gender stereotypes not only limit the stage for women to demonstrate their self-worth but also invisibly weaken society's recognition and support towards the entrepreneurial capability of women.

       We must face the fact that women on the path to entrepreneurship face various inequalities. From the difficulty of obtaining funds and the imbalance of social resources to gender biases in the workplace, these factors constantly remind women that their road to success is more rugged than that of men. However, history and reality have both proven that women possess equal intelligence and capability. They have achieved remarkable accomplishments in fields such as business, technology, and education, and their names should be remembered, and their voices should be heard.

       So, how should we act to change the status quo and build a more equitable entrepreneurial environment?

       Firstly, we need to establish a education mechanism for global gender equality. Starting with education, we should foster a gender-equal educational concept worldwide. Education should not only impart knowledge but also inspire potential, making every child who receives education believe that regardless of gender, they have the right to pursue their dreams and have the ability to become future entrepreneurs. Regrettably, in some regions, girls and women are deprived of the opportunity to attend school from childhood to adulthood due to extreme policies. Additionally, the fragmentation and disintegration of women's education due to geopolitical warfare highlight the ongoing issue of gender discrimination. The synchronous development of world civilization is historically inevitable, requiring everyone with conscience and responsibility to call for and advocate the establishment of an equal education mechanism for women to ensure their role and status in the development of world civilization.

       Secondly, we need to create a supportive social atmosphere for female entrepreneurship. A strong world comes from strong women. Women, who make up half of humanity, besides their motherly duties that take up half of their lives, should also have enough time and experience to use their intelligence and participate in the process of world civilization. A good social entrepreneurial environment not only contributes to the physical and psychological health of women but also adds wealth to the development of world science and economy. Due to traditional cultural factors, gender discrimination is still severe, and the chances of women getting employed or starting businesses are much lower than those of men. Support from all sectors of society is particularly important. This includes providing more financial support, tax incentives, entrepreneurial guidance, and other practical help, as well as giving female entrepreneurs more attention and affirmation in media and public discourse. We want society to see that female entrepreneurship is not only possible but also worthy of encouragement and support.

       Thirdly, we need to break the shackles of gender barriers in professional development. Undeniably, the traditional cultural division of labor and the contempt chain for women still exist in modern society and are quite severe, all stemming from the imperfection of social security and distribution mechanisms. Some countries have indeed achieved welfare guarantees provided by both men and women sharing the responsibilities of raising children and household chores. This allows both genders to have space and time to exert their talents in the workplace. Equal education and workplace opportunities for women are fundamental for unleashing their intelligence and creating wealth, which means eliminating workplace gender discrimination, providing equal promotion opportunities, and ensuring that their efforts are fairly evaluated and rewarded. Only then can women gain the respect and development space they deserve in the workplace. The progress of world science and technology and the development of civilization need the participation of women, as their intelligence, resilience, emotions, and other advantages are valuable assets for human development.

       I am an artist, and my profession is to record the times, witness history, convey civilization, evoke emotions, and inspire thoughts through art. Art is not a luxury but a common wealth of humanity. It transcends material value and touches the core of human nature. Art is an important part of human civilization; it transcends national borders, languages, and cultures. With its unique visual language, it conveys emotions, ideas, and dreams, inspiring social transformation and leading civilizational progress. It is a universal language that crosses nationality, race, and culture, serving as an important bridge in building a shared human destiny.

       Faced with the challenges and opportunities brought by globalization, the role of art is becoming increasingly important. Therefore, we should leverage the power of art to build bridges of communication, allowing different voices to be expressed and heard. We need art to soothe souls and ignite hope. As artists, our responsibility and mission are to use the power of art to build a more harmonious and just world, to let the light of art illuminate the future of human civilization, and to plant the concept of peace deep in everyone's heart.

       Lastly, we need to advocate an inclusive corporate culture. In such a culture, both men and women can freely express their ideas and find their place within the team, contributing to the company's development together.

       Ladies and gentlemen, building a fair entrepreneurial environment is not only for women but for the progress of the entire society. When we open a door for female entrepreneurs, we are actually opening a window for innovation. Each woman's success is a challenge to social cognition and a practice of gender equality.

       Let us join hands and work together to create a fair, just, and full-of-opportunities entrepreneurial environment for our female entrepreneurs. Let us believe that in the near future, we will witness a more diverse, equal, and prosperous society.”

       Ellen Qiongzhao is a famous Chinese-American artist in oil painting and sculpture, PhD in literature and art history, senior curator of international art, President of the American Goddess Art Museum, Vice Chairperson of the Rodin International Artists Foundation, and President of the First International Federation of the Global Chinese Fine Art Golden Brush Award.

       She graduated from Kyoto University of the Arts and Waseda University in Tokyo. Published more than 20 books. Since 1988, her oil paintings and sculptures have been collected by many international institutions or used as urban public art landscapes. Including the Fuji Art Museum in Japan, Museum of the American Revolution (American Revolutionary War Museum), the National Constitution Center, the Washington Crossing National Historic Park, the Federal Hall National Memorial in New York, the Overseas Chinese Museum in the United States, the World Sun Yat-sen Foundation, the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, etc.

       She won the Japan Fuji Art Prize twice in 1992 and 2002, respectively. In 2018, she was awarded the 32nd Ellis Island National Outstanding Immigrant Award in the United States. In 2021, she won the “Art Excellence Award”, the highest award at the 43rd New York International ArtExpo, and Directory Award at the ArtExpo in 2023. She won the Chinese Cultural Heritage Award from the UCA in 2022. She received the 2023 Morris Greenberg Global Leadership Award from the Chinese Cultural Foundation.

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