Fully ratify CEDAW Charter
Speakers at a discussion meeting here yesterday urged the government to fully ratify the Convention on Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and withdraw its reservation on some provisions.
Rajshahi district unit of Bangladesh Mahila Parishad and Borandra Unnayan Forum jointly organised the discussion meeting marking the CEDAW Day. It was held at the district council auditorium, our RU Correspondent reported.
The speakers said Bangladesh is a signatory to the charter but it is yet to be fully ratified and implemented. Among developing countries, Bangladesh played a commendable role in framing the CEDAW Charter and committed to implement it fully, they said .
But the previous government did not give legal effect to Section 2 and Part 1(F) of Section 16 of the Charter, the speakers said. The two clauses of the CEDAW Charter emphasises framing laws for elimination of all types of discrimination against women, ensures same gender status to man and woman in matrimonial relation and divorce, they mentioned.
The speakers also said that the previous government did not also implement the provisions that were ratified. Rather, it brought amendment to the National Women Development Policy, which is against the spirit of the main principles of CEDAW, they said.
They stressed the need for coordination among different ministries and non-government organisations for implementation of the CEDAW Charter. The National Women Development Policy was prepared under the light of CEDAW and Beijing Platform for Action.
general secretary of presented his inauguration speech on CEDAW. Boradra Unnayan Forum president Hasinul Islam presided over the discussion.
The speakers included Boradra Unnayan Forum secretary Faizullah Chowdhury, language movement veteran Abul Hossain, director of Steps Towards Development Shahin Rahman, Rajshahi district secretary of Bangladesh Mohila Parishad Kalpona Roy, BLAST Coordinator advocate Abdus Samad, Rajshahi Journalists Union president Hassan Millat, senior journalist Mustafizur Rahman Khan, Bangladesh Jatiya Mohila Ainjibi Somiti Coordinator Dil Setera Chuni, Piker Project Coordinator Abdus Sobhan and Aktarul Islam. Shamim Ara moderated the discussion.
Officials of nine NGOs and rights activists also attended the function.
In Gaibandha the CEDAW day was observed with a fresh vow to remove discrimination against women in all spheres of national life.
On the occasion, a discussion meeting was organised jointly by Social Endeavour Group, Gaibandha Development Network and Steps Towards Development. It was held at Gaibandha Public Library Hall.
The speakers said the government approved the CDAW but sections 2 and 16-1(Ga) of the charter are yet to be approved.
They demanded of the caretaker government full ratification of the charter to remove gender discrimination in the country.
Presided over by Prof Jaharul Kaiyum, convener of Social Endeavour Group, the meeting was addressed by, among others, Jahan Ara Begum, Sabiha Sultana Lucky, Gobinda Lal Das and Gaibandha Press Club President Abu Zafar Sabu.
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