Miles to go for gender equality

Bangladesh celebrated International Women's Day with the theme "Women in leadership: Achieving an equal future in a Covid-19 world". 

The United Nations held a programme at the capital's BICC auditorium on Sunday on this occasion.

UN Bangladesh Resident Coordinator Mia Seppo presided over the programme and said effects of the pandemic are compounding existing obstacles for women's participation in decision-making processes of public life, although, their drive to progress is unparalleled. Women in leadership roles centring health-care response, security and keeping Bangladesh safe during the shutdown showed that they can be in charge despite the challenges they face in terms of the management structure.

Jatiya Sangsad Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury said that she is at her position not only because she is a woman, but because she is the best. Globally, Bangladesh has become a role model for women empowerment. People, however, put a disproportionate burden on women by reinforcing pre-existing inequalities and deepening gender-based violence on women and girls.

Several events were arranged by different organisations yesterday to observe the day.

Leading human rights body Ain O Salish Kendra (ASK) arranged a programme, where its executive director Golam Monoar Kamal stressed the issue of unpaid care work being a burden for women.

"Men should change their mindset regarding gender equality, because women are now working simultaneously at home and in workplaces, while men are not holding up their part," he said.

ASK Senior Deputy Manager Nina Goswami said it has been observed in recent times that the participation rate of women in higher education is much less than that of women in the early stages of education, and they are also discouraged to choose many sectors.

Women's participation has increased over the past decade in various fields, including education and economic activities, but in the judiciary or in the state administration, the number of women is still low, and they are considered weak for the professions, she added.

Debate for Democracy organised a debate competition, where Shaheen Anam, executive director of Manusher Jonno Foundation, joined the programme as chief guest and said, "A recent survey shows that in 25 rape cases filed in the country from 2012 to 2016, all the accused have been granted bail within 24 hours to 15 days of their arrest, and most of them have been trying to influence the cases in various ways, although bail is not applicable for a punishable offence under Women and Children Repression Act 2000," she said.

Samajik Protirodh Committee -- a platform of 67 women, and human rights and development organisations -- organised a webinar, where Bangladesh Mahila Parishad President Dr Fauzia Moslem presided over the programme and said violence against women must be eradicated not only through women's movement but also from political, economic and humanitarian points of view.

All must carry out a new movement with new people to address the increasing number of violence, the burden of unpaid care work with no recognition, and cybercrimes, she said.

The Office of Refugee, Relief and Repatriation Commissioner, UN Women, World Food Programme, Food and Agriculture Organization and Brac jointly organised an event, where speakers stressed on ensuring safety for Rohingya women.

Musfiqul Alam Halim, senior assistant secretary at the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief and in-charge of Camp-5 in Kutupalong, called on all concerned to inform the camp office if any incident of violence against women takes place at the Rohingya camp.

Bangladesh National Women Lawyers Association (BNWLA) and Gulshan Ladies Club also celebrated the day with a programme, where BNWLA President Advocate Salma Ali said although women have come a long way on their own, the attitude of men towards women has not changed.

"Although we are in our 50 years of independence, our mentality has not progressed as much as it should have," she said.