Women major driver of transformation
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has stressed the need for recognising women's unaccounted works, building more support facilities for female workers and eliminating social stereotypes against them.
She was speaking at a roundtable of UN Secretary General's “High-Level Panel (HLP) on Women's Economic Empowerment for Leaving No One Behind” at the UN Headquarters in New York on Tuesday.
Hasina said women are the most important drivers of transformation. “Through empowerment of women, the world can most effectively succeed in the realisation of sustainable development for all.”
“We believe, women should be supported with education, proper training, right tools and access to equal opportunities,” she said.
In the political spectrum, she said, Bangladesh has ensured the representation of women at all levels.
Hasina mentioned that Bangladesh has given priority to women's economic engagement to attain SDG on women empowerment in the seventh Five Year Plan. “Twenty-seven percent of our budget is allocated for women's social and economic empowerment activities.”
She said 10 percent of posts for women are reserved in judicial, administrative, civil service, armed forces and law enforcing agencies while 60 posts of primary school teachers are set aside for them.
Hasina also said the government has introduced six months' paid maternity leave for working women as well, while the central bank is providing collateral-free loan up to Tk 2.5 million to female entrepreneurs.
About 15 percent funds of the refinancing scheme, 10 percent industrial plots and 10 percent small entrepreneur funds are allocated for women.
"Every bank and non-bank financial institution has dedicated a desk to women entrepreneurs. Government's micro-finance schemes and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) have been contributing to poverty reduction and women empowerment. At least 10 percent of all credit is allocated to women-led SMEs," she said.
“…women's participation in our economy is increasing. Over four million women are employed in the readymade garment industry, while 35 percent of our women hold bank accounts,” she said adding that women's contribution to the GDP growth is 34 percent in Bangladesh. “We aim to ensure 40 percent participation of women in every sector by 2021 and 50 percent by 2030,” she said.
SUMMIT ON CLIMATE CHANGE
The PM also attended a summit on a global pact for the environment the same day, hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron at the UN Headquarters.
She said the climate change issue needs to be placed within the wider narrative of ensuring peace, stability, prosperity and addressing inequalities across societies. “Addressing climate change is about ensuring that human rights, justice and fundamental freedoms are enjoyed by all…," she said.
Terming Bangladesh one of the most vulnerable countries to climate change impacts, she called for taking into account four important factors in combating climate change which were essential for a Global Pact on Environment.
The factors include bringing forth climate justice and historical responsibility to the forefront of a robust and effective legal regime; identifying actors from local to global levels for implementing adaptation and mitigation measures; and delivering on the international community's moral obligation to support the victims of climate change.
She said Bangladesh is the first among developing countries to establish a National Climate Change Fund. Bangladesh has so far invested US$ 400 million from its own resources.
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