BD seeks UN support for its inclusive approach towards women dev

Bangladesh has sought support from the international community, particularly the United Nations, for its inclusive approach towards women development.

“The Bangladesh government has adopted an inclusive approach for women development where NGOs, civil society and other stakeholders are complementing its efforts. We also need greater support from the international community in this regard,” State Minister for Women and Children Affairs Meher Afroze told the General Debate of the ongoing 62nd Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) on Wednesday. 

“From the highest political level down to the grassroots, we have a greater participation of our women that was manifest at Bangladesh attaining 7th position among 155 countries in the political empowerment category,” she added, according to message received here from the Permanent Mission of Bangladesh to the United Nations on Thursday.

The State Minister also raised the ongoing Rohingya crisis in her statement, saying, “The majority of the forcibly displaced Myanmar’s citizen camped in Bangladesh are women and children. We need to work on addressing these challenges.”

She said, “Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman started the process of uplifting the status of women as a constitutional obligation. Subsequently, under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Bangladesh has made remarkable progress in women and children’s development.” 

According to the Global Gender Gap ranking 2017 prepared by World Economic Forum, 

Bangladesh jumped up 25 notches to 47th place in terms of gender equality and has again topped South Asia.

In her statement, the State Minister enumerated various measures taken by the present government to ensure women’s empowerment in Bangladesh such as policy intervention, social safety net, livelihood training, access to micro-finance and SMEs for promoting women’s entrepreneurship, women-friendly banking system and projects for promoting and protecting girls. 

She said, “Due to such initiatives, our rural women are getting integrated in our mainstream socio-economic activities and gradually coming out of extreme poverty. In January 2018, Bangladesh received 34th ranking in World Economic Forum’s Inclusive Development Index's list of emerging economies, again topping in South Asia”

The delegation members of Bangladesh to the 62nd CSW included Kazi Rosy, MP, Women and Children’s Affairs Secretary Nasima Begum, Textiles and Jute Secretary Md Faizur Rahman Chowdhury, Rural Development and Cooperatives Division Secretary Mafruha Sultana.

The Ambassador of Ireland and Chair of the Bureau of 62nd CSW Geraldine Byrne Nason chaired the meeting.

Source: unb