International Women's Day is the occasion that connects all women around the world and inspires them to achieve their full potential. It is an important day because the collective power of women is witnessed by millions, and the brave achievements of women past, present and future are respectfully honoured.

While celebrating women's achievements worldwide, we should also devote this day to remembering all the women who have suffered abuse. International Women's Day should remind us all to think about the consequences of human trafficking.

Acknowledging their struggles, we should decide what needs to be done for the future. We should also use this special day to focus on our mission, for girls and young women to discover and fulfil their potential.

When women come together something wonderful happens: an igniting of passion and possibility; hope rises, determination quickens and our bond as women deepens. This day is about supporting women to give voice to their visions. It is about speaking truth and about the deep listening that keeps us in creative solution and collaboration. It also focuses on improving the quality of life for women by empowering them to be economically self-sufficient.

Women are as affected as any man by the challenges facing humanity in the 21st century -- in economic and social development, as well as in peace and security. Often, they are more affected. Women should be engaged in the decision-making processes in all areas, with equal strength and in equal numbers. We have to admit that there is no policy more effective in promoting development, health and education than the empowerment of women and girls.

At the 2005 World Summit, world leaders declared “progress for women is progress for all”. On this International Women's Day, let us also opine with those words. We need the guarantee that half the world's population takes up its rightful place in the world's decision-making. "By effectively increasing the impact of women on public life at all levels, the potential for change towards gender equality and empowerment of women and a more democratic and just society is increased." This was mentioned in the report of the UN Secretary-General on equal participation of women and men in decision-making processes at all levels, in December 2005.

In 1995, the Beijing Platform for Action identified women in power and decision-making as one of its critical areas of concern and outlined concrete actions to be taken by governments, the private sector, academic institutions, regional bodies and non-governmental organizations as well as the United Nations system to increase women's access and full participation in power structures and decision-making.

In many countries, women are meeting the challenges of leadership, and contributing to change in their communities, countries and in the international arena in very real ways. Women have held public office at various levels of government, initiated and led grassroots organisations, and are present in virtually every professional field and in the private sector.

Yet the pace of progress towards the equality of women and men in decision-making at all levels, is slow. Women continue to remain under-represented at all levels of decision-making and their achievements all too often remain invisible and unacknowledged, their voices unheard. Much more needs to be done, not only to accelerate the inclusion of women into formal decision-making bodies, but also to increase their impact on decision-making.

By building strong foundations for leadership and strong networks, representing women's perspectives in decision-making circles, and seizing opportunities for change, women are meeting the challenges of change necessary to achieve equality with men in decision-making at all levels.

In case of women's participation or contribution in the political field of Bangladesh, a quota has ensured their presence in the local government and National Parliament. Despite many odds, statistics and analyses reveal a slowly growing trend towards women's political participation. However, they face an ominous challenge. There has also been a growing influence of money in Bangladesh politics, particularly in electoral politics and in guarding/promoting spheres of influence. This acts as a further constraint in women's political participation since fewer women have access to financial resources. It is very difficult for women to work effectively in this system unless such practices are eradicated.

Party affiliation depends on membership drives and on the organisational and electoral needs of each party. The actual number of women members in different political parties, however, cannot be determined, since gender-specific records are not maintained. Nevertheless, a slow trend towards women's greater participation has emerged over the decade. As party workers, women render valuable contributions in the mobilization of voters, especially women. Although there are only a few women in leadership positions and there is limited female involvement in party hierarchical structures, but there seems apt enthusiasm towards their increased participation.Hopefully such increased participation in power structure by women would widen their sphere of empowerment in this still man-dominated society.

Shegufta Yasmin is an editorial assistant of The Daily Star.