Despite the great achievements that have been made in promoting equal rights for women in past decades, there is still much to be desired when it comes to equality for women.

International Women's Day on Thursday provides us with an opportunity to not only acknowledge the gains that have been made, in what is in effect less than a single lifetime - the average life expectancy for a woman is now 75, while in 1950 it was less than half that - but also an opportunity to remind ourselves of what still needs to be done.

Government health and literacy campaigns over the last 60 years have significantly improved the lives of women, dramatically reducing the number of women who die giving birth and ensuring that more than 90 percent of girls receive at least elementary education. And the percentage of women in the workforce has increased fivefold.

However, almost one in five women is likely to be the victim of domestic violence and women's wages are actually falling in relation to men's, most noticeably in rural areas. And despite almost doubling the number of female National People's Congress deputies over the past six decades women are still outnumbered by men four to one.

The campaign by some female students to occupy men's restrooms in some cities, although it might seem frivolous to some (most, if not all, of whom will be men), has highlighted the fact that, even though they may not harbor the intention of discriminating against women, male decision-makers - who greatly outnumber their female counterparts - often ignore, or are ignorant of, the needs of women in the process of decision-making.

If more women are decision-makers and our decision-makers are more aware of the discrimination and difficulties women face, we can build on the achievements of the past and complete the process begun in 1949, so that finally in the 21st century women can enjoy equal treatment as men.

Observing this special occasion, both men and women need to realize that the journey is not yet over and more still needs to be done to achieve true equality. There is still a long way to go.

(China Daily 03/08/2012 page9)