On the occasion of the International CEDAW Day on the 3rd of September, a consultation meeting was held by Bangladesh Mahila Parishad on the “UN CEDAW Committee’s Concluding Remarks (2016): Implementation Review” at Anwara Begum-Munira Khan Milanayatan. It was presided over by Dr. Fauzia Moslem, President of Bangladesh Mahila Parishad. The general secretary of the organization, Maleka Banu, delivered the welcome speech. Geetanjali Singh, Country Representative of UN Women Bangladesh, graced the event as a chief guest. Ferdous Ara Begum, a former member of the UN CEDAW Committee, Mozammel Hossain Manju, Acting Editor of Dainik Samakal, Rokeya Kabir, Executive Director of Bangladesh Nari Pragati Shangha, Farah Kabir, Country Director of Action Aid, Care Bangladesh also delivered their speech as special guests.
In her welcome speech, Maleka Banu said that the government is not withdrawing the objection from the second section of the CEDAW Charter, and the anti-women fundamentalist forces are taking advantage of it. Therefore, the political will of the government is needed for full ratification by withdrawing the reservation of the charter.
The chief guest Geetanjali Singh said, according to the global gender gap report, there are still many inequalities in establishing equality. She also said that emphasis should be given to increase women’s participation in the economy, political empowerment, and non-discrimination policies and to uphold gender-disaggregated data to establish equality.
Ferdous Ara Begum said that the actual implementation of CEDAW Certificate is needed to prevent violence against women in Bangladesh. Rokeya Kabir said that Government administration should be held accountable by law enforcement officers. Farah Kabir, in her speech emphasized on increase in political empowerment of women and unity among everyone. In the president’s speech, Dr. Fauzia Moslem said that although various steps have been taken by the government for women, there is no step to ratify clause number two of CEDAW Charter. The Program was conducted by Shima Moslem.
The news of the consultation meeting was published in Bangladesh News Agency (Bangla and English) Prothom Alo, Ittefaq, Samakal, Kaler Kantha, Jugantar, Bhorer Kagaz, Janakantha, Sharabangla.net and Women News 24.com.
