Beijing+20 Review focuses on advancing women, girls\\\' status

The "Asian and Pacific Conference on Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment: Beijing+20 Review" began in Bangkok Wednesday, focusing on advancement of status of women and girls in the region.
More than 700 persons including ministers and representatives of civil society are attending the two- day conference, convened by the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) in cooperation with UN Women, in advance of next year's 20-year commemoration of the adoption of the global agenda for gender equality -the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action.
Over the next two days, delegates will discuss and identify strategies for accelerating implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action, as a key means of achieving gender equality, including such measures as strengthening government institutions and accountability, forging stronger partnerships and enhancing financing.
From Bangladesh, government and non government delegates including State Minister for Women and Children Affairs Meher Afroze Chumki are attending the conference. For the first time, two school grade district level girls are also participating to talk about ante natal care for preventing maternal death.
 to bdnews24.com, in her speech, State Minister for Women and Children Affairs Meher Afroze Chumki called upon the UN Asia-Pacific regional countries to raise a strong voice for keeping 'gender equality and women's empowerment' a 'stand-alone' sustainable development goal.

smunima@yahoo.com