Need to bring women into the mainstream
Thursday, 11 March 2010
Shahiduzzaman Khan
It is heartening to note that the government has decided to amend or repeal laws that were harmful to, and discriminatory against, women in the country. Addressing the inaugural function of the centenary of International Women's Day in the city, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina disclosed this and identified two priority areas -- education and financial self-reliance of women -- where women's participation needs to be strengthened immediately.
There is no denying that country's overall development is impossible without improving the socio-economic condition of the women. Women constitute half of its population and their empowerment is expected to inject momentum into the economy. As a woman, the Prime Minister has established herself as a glittering example of global women's empowerment with her determined and relentless efforts towards the development of the womenfolk. Such views were expressed by US Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women's Issues Melanne Verveer during her recent visit to Bangladesh.
The present Awami League (AL)-led government is yet to frame a fresh policy to ensure women's empowerment and equality in rights and opportunities although a year has elapsed after it come to power following the general election in late December, 2008. The government, if fact, wanted to update two policies prepared in 1997 and 1998 in accordance with its decision taken earlier. The National Women Development Policy of 1997 stipulated equal rights of women to inheritance, property including what is achieved through technology and market management and to land.
However, the latest reports say the ministry for women and children had received recommendations from various stakeholders for further improvement in the policy. The government in fact wanted to revive the old policy framed during its previous tenure without implementing the National Women Development Policy 2008, which was prepared by the erstwhile caretaker government. The former government backtracked from executing its policy in the face of strong protests by Islamist groups over women's equal right to property - moveable and immovable. The BNP-led four-party alliance government brought about some changes in the policy in 2004, relating to equal ownership of property earned by inheritance, market management and other means allegedly without consulting any stakeholders.
The policy framed by the caretaker government suggested that the government should make coordinated efforts at national, district and grassroots' levels and work with national and international non-governmental organisations for women's empowerment. It also recommended one-third of the parliament should be represented by women and equity should be ensured between men and women in all spheres of national life. The policy also advocated the establishment of women's human rights, their emancipation from poverty cycle, elimination of discrimination against girls, adequate nutrition for them, enough support to help their aptitude and talent to flourish and extension of maternity leave to five months. But still these are not enough.
The goals of the new policy, however, should be social, political and economic empowerment of women who account for more than a half of the country's population but are lagging far behind their male counterparts. The women should be given equal opportunity to property, employment, market and business. Effective measures should be taken in right earnest so that women could be appointed in foreign missions, universities, University Grants Commission, planning ministry and higher positions in the judiciary. In fact, most of the previous governments talked loud about women's empowerment, but no concrete steps are visible as yet.
In most private workplaces, especially garment factories, expecting mothers are being deprived of the rights, including proper maternity leave. Female employees of private organisations, especially the garment workers, do not get maternity leave properly. Employers do not provide day-care facilities needed to allow working mothers to breast-feed their babies. Employers should remember that productivity of the workforce would go up if they ensured welfare facilities such as childcare centres at workplaces.
Around 85 per cent of women are now living under the poverty line. They need to be brought into the mainstream of national development process through economic and political empowerment in order to accelerate poverty alleviation in the country. Only strong political will can succeed in making women's empowerment a reality by eliminating all kinds of violence and discrimination against women. The state has to take responsibility in empowering women economically and politically.
Women have an immense contribution to make the country's economy. But they continue to face discrimination in every aspect of life, especially at work. Women should not be considered only as potential voters but also as an important part of the society. Access to property and land remains a big problem in empowering them socially and economically.
Legal measures are required to deal with women's development. Existing legal measures are not enough. Education for women should be given top priority among the steps taken towards their empowerment. Women's organisations have to launch a united movement in the country to establish women's rights in the country. A social movement also has to be created for women. A platform, comprising leaders of political parties and activists of social and cultural organisations, is needed to raise the issue of women and their rights. Women empowerment is not possible unless they are empowered to make political decisions. There is a need to mount pressure on political parties so that they mention in their election manifestos how they would address the gender issues. szkhan@thefinancialexpress-bd.com
It is heartening to note that the government has decided to amend or repeal laws that were harmful to, and discriminatory against, women in the country. Addressing the inaugural function of the centenary of International Women's Day in the city, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina disclosed this and identified two priority areas -- education and financial self-reliance of women -- where women's participation needs to be strengthened immediately.
There is no denying that country's overall development is impossible without improving the socio-economic condition of the women. Women constitute half of its population and their empowerment is expected to inject momentum into the economy. As a woman, the Prime Minister has established herself as a glittering example of global women's empowerment with her determined and relentless efforts towards the development of the womenfolk. Such views were expressed by US Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women's Issues Melanne Verveer during her recent visit to Bangladesh.
The present Awami League (AL)-led government is yet to frame a fresh policy to ensure women's empowerment and equality in rights and opportunities although a year has elapsed after it come to power following the general election in late December, 2008. The government, if fact, wanted to update two policies prepared in 1997 and 1998 in accordance with its decision taken earlier. The National Women Development Policy of 1997 stipulated equal rights of women to inheritance, property including what is achieved through technology and market management and to land.
However, the latest reports say the ministry for women and children had received recommendations from various stakeholders for further improvement in the policy. The government in fact wanted to revive the old policy framed during its previous tenure without implementing the National Women Development Policy 2008, which was prepared by the erstwhile caretaker government. The former government backtracked from executing its policy in the face of strong protests by Islamist groups over women's equal right to property - moveable and immovable. The BNP-led four-party alliance government brought about some changes in the policy in 2004, relating to equal ownership of property earned by inheritance, market management and other means allegedly without consulting any stakeholders.
The policy framed by the caretaker government suggested that the government should make coordinated efforts at national, district and grassroots' levels and work with national and international non-governmental organisations for women's empowerment. It also recommended one-third of the parliament should be represented by women and equity should be ensured between men and women in all spheres of national life. The policy also advocated the establishment of women's human rights, their emancipation from poverty cycle, elimination of discrimination against girls, adequate nutrition for them, enough support to help their aptitude and talent to flourish and extension of maternity leave to five months. But still these are not enough.
The goals of the new policy, however, should be social, political and economic empowerment of women who account for more than a half of the country's population but are lagging far behind their male counterparts. The women should be given equal opportunity to property, employment, market and business. Effective measures should be taken in right earnest so that women could be appointed in foreign missions, universities, University Grants Commission, planning ministry and higher positions in the judiciary. In fact, most of the previous governments talked loud about women's empowerment, but no concrete steps are visible as yet.
In most private workplaces, especially garment factories, expecting mothers are being deprived of the rights, including proper maternity leave. Female employees of private organisations, especially the garment workers, do not get maternity leave properly. Employers do not provide day-care facilities needed to allow working mothers to breast-feed their babies. Employers should remember that productivity of the workforce would go up if they ensured welfare facilities such as childcare centres at workplaces.
Around 85 per cent of women are now living under the poverty line. They need to be brought into the mainstream of national development process through economic and political empowerment in order to accelerate poverty alleviation in the country. Only strong political will can succeed in making women's empowerment a reality by eliminating all kinds of violence and discrimination against women. The state has to take responsibility in empowering women economically and politically.
Women have an immense contribution to make the country's economy. But they continue to face discrimination in every aspect of life, especially at work. Women should not be considered only as potential voters but also as an important part of the society. Access to property and land remains a big problem in empowering them socially and economically.
Legal measures are required to deal with women's development. Existing legal measures are not enough. Education for women should be given top priority among the steps taken towards their empowerment. Women's organisations have to launch a united movement in the country to establish women's rights in the country. A social movement also has to be created for women. A platform, comprising leaders of political parties and activists of social and cultural organisations, is needed to raise the issue of women and their rights. Women empowerment is not possible unless they are empowered to make political decisions. There is a need to mount pressure on political parties so that they mention in their election manifestos how they would address the gender issues. szkhan@thefinancialexpress-bd.com