Ensure environment for women’s empowerment

Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) has called for ensuring a conducive environment for women's empowerment, gender equality and women's leadership in all areas to ensure sustainable development and good governance in Bangladesh.

The organisation made the call yesterday on the occasion of International Women's Day.

In a statement, TIB Executive Director Dr Iftekharuzzaman said, "About half of the total population of Bangladesh is women. Therefore, just as sustainable development is impossible without the active participation of women, it is also impossible to ensure gender equality and good governance without the effective participation of women in leadership."

He said gender inequality and corruption are interrelated. Gender inequality hinders good governance, sustainable development and poverty alleviation. Various studies have also shown that women's empowerment is hampered due to corruption.

Even in the context of Bangladesh, poor governance and corruption is hampering achievements brought on by women's empowerment, he said.

Referring to the ongoing Covid-19 situation, the executive director further said women as well as men are taking the lead in Bangladesh and all over the world to transition from the pandemic. Especially in the government's decision-making processes, women have contributed a lot in various fields, including health care for tackling Covid-19.

The recent recognition of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina as one of the top inspiring women leaders among Commonwealth countries is proof of that, he said, adding that, "But even at such times, the process of violence against women or oppression of women has not stopped."

A recent study found that 30.54 percent of women were physically abused, 22.99 percent were sexually harassed, 76.53 percent had their daily lives controlled, 35.4 percent were financially abused during the pandemic, and 43.75 percent have been victims of both physical and sexual abuse.

In addition, due to closure of educational institutions and decline in family income, the rates of child marriage and female students dropping out are increasing. But for sustainable development, development and empowerment of women by preventing violence against them is essential, Dr Iftekharuzzaman said.

TIB placed eight demands on the occasion of International Women's Day, as a step towards achieving sustainable development by ensuring good governance and empowerment of women.

The demands include appropriate and specific steps to ensure women's participation and leadership in earning, education, healthcare, justice and decision-making processes during the Covid-19.

 crisis, and opportunities need to be created for women on a priority basis.

One of the major obstacles to establishing gender equality, in particular, is lack of inclusion of integrity and anti-corruption in all spheres of governance, it noted.

The government needs to formulate a clear blueprint by 2030, reducing corruption being a precondition for ending violence and oppression against women, with special emphasis on SDG objectives 5 and 16 in the action plan for achieving sustainable development, the statement added.

TIB also demanded full implementation of "National Plan to Prevent Violence Against Women and Children 2013-2025", political parties nominating more women candidates to ensure their participation in decision-making processes; and  representation of women in every parliamentary standing committee.