Call for more efforts to improve women's status
Foreign Minister Dipu Moni addressing as the chief guest at a three-day 11th district conference of Zonta International District 25, comprised of its units in Bangladesh, India and Sri Lanka, at Dhaka Regency Hotel in the city yesterday.Photo: STAR
Increasing global and national efforts are imperative to uplift the status of women, contributing more to society than men but denied of their just share to resources and dignity, said speakers at a conference yesterday. Education and health are the two areas needing emphasis for women empowerment leading to positive impacts, they said. Zonta International District 25, comprised of its units in Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and India, organised the inaugural of its three-day 11th district conference at Dhaka Regency Hotel in the city. Zonta International is a global body of leading women professionals and entrepreneurs working in various capacities at national, regional and international levels and volunteers in advancing the status of women worldwide. Addressing as the chief guest, Foreign Minister Dipu Moni said violence against women exists both in the developing and developed world despite massive awareness campaigns on women health, education and equity over the past three decades. Alongside came the issue of gender, rights and responsibilities of men and women so that all can grow to their full potentials. But things did not turn out as expected, she said. Seventy percent of the world's 1.3 billion poor are women. The global and national leaders should put more efforts and resources to ensure education and health for women and end laws that hamper their development, she said. Sarah Kobori, member of the parliament, said there was a time when women were confined to houses. Now they should come out and contribute to ensure humanity with efforts reaching national and global levels, she said. Terming women as an emerging power, the conference Chair Dilruba Ahmed, also Zonta International Committee member, said, “Let us show we are the achievers and have the courage to make the world free from violence, poverty and inequality. “Let us see the conference in the spirit of international cooperation and friendship.” Bangladesh National Women Lawyers' Association Executive Director Salma Ali and Dilruba Ahmed were presented with Lifetime Achievements Award at the conference for their leadership skills and contribution to protect the rights of women and children. Zonta leaders Dr Marlene Abeyewardene from Sri Lanka, Chitra Ragulan from India, Sonja Honig Schough from Sweden and Zonta International 25 Governor Naheed Moyeen also spoke.
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