Withdraw reservation on UN convention article

Speakers yesterday called on the government to withdraw the reservation on Cedaw Article 2 which mainly deals with elimination of discrimination against women, as the government has one month to submit its combined 6th and 7th periodic report on Cedaw implementation.

Bangladesh Mahila Parishad President Ayesha Khanam said article 2 of the Convention on Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (Cedaw) states the spirit of the convention.

The government must ratify the Cedaw article to stop heinous crimes against women, dowry, rape, murder and discrimination of all forms, including inheritance of property, she added.

Though women and children affairs ministry has already drafted the 6th and 7th combined report to submit to the UN Cedaw Committee in December this year, it organised a national consultation with women rights activists, NGO workers, lawyers, and lawmakers at Biam auditorium before finalising the report.

Shirin Sharmin, state minister for women and children affairs, and Meher Afroze Chumki, chairman of the parliamentary standing committee on the ministry, spoke at the programme with Secretary to the ministry Rokeya Sultana in the chair.

Prof Gitiara Nasreen, Advocate Salma Ali, Salma Khan, Ferdous Ara Begum, Mahfuza Mondal, Khadija Khatun Shefali, Rokeya Rafique and Rokeya Kabir also spoke.

Bangladesh ratified Cedaw in 1984 with some reservations.