Call to ensure women's political empowerment

A three-day regional conference on women's political leadership ended yesterday with a call to strive for greater representation of women in parliament, political bodies, and public life to ensure women's political empowerment and gender equality.
A common declaration of the conference recognised the principals of diversity, inclusiveness, and gender equality as basic rights and that women are key to build up democracy.
It also stressed the need for capacity building of women in political parties, parliamentary structure, and other decision-making bodies and continuing advocacy for strengthening the network among the South Asian women.
The declaration came at the closing session of the conference styled "South Asian Regional Conference on Women's Political Leadership-2011" jointly organised by the Bangladesh parliament and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Bangladesh at a city hotel.
Speaking as the chief guest, Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury, deputy leader of the parliament, said awareness raising and education are essential to ensure women's political empowerment at all levels. "There is no justice without equity and equality," she said.
Foreign Minister Dipu Moni called upon women to take part in different local government elections from empowering themselves more and more.
UNDP Resident Coordinator Neal Walker, among others, also spoke at the function.
Lawmakers, representatives of political leaders, and civil society members from eight South Asian countries attended the function.