Why women matter

ON Saturday, women were the focus at two significant conferences in the nation's capital. It shows just how crucial the question of women's security as also their empowerment has become in this country. It is also a sign of the growing perception in society of the need for women to come forward in a big way towards contributing to national development.
One of the conferences, namely, a shadow parliamentary debate organized by Transparency International Bangladesh focused on the need for society to demonstrate a greater degree of respect for women in order for comprehensive social progress to be brought about. At the other conference, organsed jointly by UNDP and the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, the emphasis was clearly on an eradication of violence against women. Briefly put, the commonality of theme between the two conferences puts across a powerful message.
While it is true that women have in recent years made remarkable strides in their various professional fields, it is equally true that a very major section of them remain vulnerable in many ways. They are yet targets of physical attack by their spouses; sexual harassment at workplaces is yet a menace and repressive behaviour toward them in the rural interior is still a dark reality. Given these truths, it is important that institutional efforts be geared toward ensuring greater security for women as well as making the way smoother for them to forge even further ahead in giving full expression to their abilities and intelligence.