Gender equality: Bangladesh top in South Asia, says PM
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today underscored the importance of empowering women, saying they suffer most during any conflict and disaster.
"It is beyond question that women are the most vulnerable section of society, especially in third-world countries. They suffer from various forms of violence, malnutrition, illiteracy ... Their plights multiply during any conflict and disaster," she said.
The PM said this while speaking at the inaugural session of the two-day seminar on International Women Peace and Security.
Armed Forces Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Bangladesh Police organised the seminar at Army Multipurpose Complex in Dhaka Cantonment.
She said the United Nations Security Council adopted Resolution 1,325 which established the Women Peace and Security (WPS) agenda and Bangladesh is proud to be a part of formulating the resolution.
Hasina said since independence, Bangladesh has been working on promoting women in all spheres of national life.
She said the country's constitution framed under the guidance of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman guarantees equal rights of women.
She quoted the Article 28 (1) of the Constitution that says: The State shall not discriminate against any citizen on grounds only of religion, race, caste, sex or place of birth.
Clause 2 of the same Article stipulates: Women shall have equal rights with men in all spheres of the state and of public life.
The PM said her government has formulated the Women Policy, 2011. Under the policy, it has taken measures to ensure women's overall development and active participation in mainstream socio-economic activities and removing all impediments to their empowerment.
Their increased participation and contribution in sectors like politics, administration, education, businesses, sports, and the armed forces have been transforming the socio-economic landscape of Bangladesh, she added. "Bangladesh is at the top position in gender equality among South Asian countries," she told the seminar.
PM Hasina said Bangladesh is a role model for women's participation in peacekeeping, peace-building, disaster management, and preventing violent extremism.
In this regard, she said it was her government which has opened the door for women to be recruited in the armed forces during her first tenure in 1996.
At present, she said, Bangladesh is the topmost contributor of female peacekeepers in UN peacekeeping missions. So far, a total of 704 female peacekeepers from Bangladesh Armed Forces have participated in UN peacekeeping operations. Currently 373 female members are deployed in different peacekeeping missions.
"On the other hand, a total of 1,624 female police officers from Bangladesh Police have taken part in peacekeeping operations and 150 officers are currently working."
She also said that women in Bangladesh are now serving as government secretaries, judges of Supreme Court, VCs of Universities and top position of many organisations. The prime minister said as the current chair of the Women, Peace and Security Chiefs of Defence Network that was launched by Bangladesh, Canada and the United Kingdom in November 2017, all are pledge-bound to carry forward the WPS agenda.
"Formulating National Action Plan 2019-2022 on WPS, we have been implementing it. We have decided that implementation of the National Action Plan will continue till 2025," she said.