Advancing empowerment OF women with purpose and unity

8th March marks International Women's Day, a time to celebrate the strength, resilience, and achievements of women in Bangladesh and around the world. It is a day to honour progress, acknowledge challenges, and renew our commitment to creating a future where every woman has the opportunity to thrive. To every woman striving, leading, and uplifting others - you are the heart of our progress, and your journey inspires us all.

This year's theme, "Accelerate Action," reminds us that while progress has been made, there is still work to do. Gender equality is not just an aspiration but a necessity for social and economic advancement. We must take deliberate steps to remove barriers and create opportunities that allow women to excel in all areas of life. Progress is only meaningful when it is continuous and inclusive, ensuring that no woman is left behind.

Since 2010, the Dhaka Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry has been dedicated to championing women's economic empowerment. We have supported thousands of women in starting and growing businesses, accessing financial resources, created job opportunities, provided training to foster entrepreneurship and form trade linkages. Internationally, we have taken the voices of Bangladeshi women to global platforms, ensuring their contributions are recognised and their challenges addressed.

Yet, our urgency to accelerate action has never been greater. Bangladesh currently ranks 99th in the Global Gender Gap Index, with women making up only 7% of business owners, and nearly 50% experiencing violence in some form. Labour force participation remains low at 37%, compared to 80% for men. This gap is further widened by the digital divide - only 4.7% of women use digital platforms for online payments, compared to 16% of men. In an era defined by digital transformation, this disparity restricts women's access to economic opportunities, limiting their participation in the evolving digital economy.

These figures highlight the need for targeted efforts to bridge gaps and create meaningful change.

At Dhaka Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry, we are committed to focusing on key areas that can drive progress and empower women economically. To effectively implement these goals, we must prioritise the following:

1. Digital Transformation: Bridging the digital divide is essential for women's economic empowerment. We must invest in affordable digital infrastructure, promote digital literacy, and encourage women to embrace digital solutions in business and daily life. This will enable their active participation in the digital economy, expand access to new markets, and foster innovation that drives growth and prosperity.

2. Promoting Women Entrepreneurship: Supporting women entrepreneurs, particularly startups' are the key to inclusive economic growth. This includes facilitating access to finance, providing mentorship and training, and fostering networks that enable women-led businesses to thrive sustainably.

3. Advancing Gender Equality: True progress requires gender equality at every level of society. We must promote equal opportunities in education, employment, and leadership, making sure women have a voice in decision-making processes.

4. Ensuring Women's Safety: Creating a safe environment for women is essential for their mobility, economic participation, and overall well-being. This includes implementing effective safety measures in public transportation, workplaces, marketplaces, and other public spaces to make sure women can travel and work without fear of harassment or violence.

5. Advancing Research for Women's Well-being: Targeted research and development are essential to improving women's lives, from enhancing access to safe sanitation to developing inclusive workplace policies. By addressing key issues like menstrual health, maternal care, and safety, we can create lasting solutions that empower women and drive social progress.

6. Policy Advocacy for Sustainable Development Goals: To ensure long-term impact, we must align our efforts with the United Nations SDGs, particularly SDG 5 (Gender Equality) and SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth). Policymakers should prioritise gender-responsive strategies that place women at the centre of economic growth and social progress.

7. Public-Private Partnerships: Collaboration is a key to accelerating change. We must strengthen partnerships between the government, private sector, and civil society to create gender-responsive policies and programmes for women's economic participation.

As we work towards these goals, it is essential to recognise that empowering women is not just about addressing inequalities; it is about unlocking their immense potential to drive progress in families, businesses, and communities. As entrepreneurs, educators, leaders and innovators, women shape the future with resilience and visions and their contributions are woven into the fabric of society. Investing in them fuels economic growth, strengthens social harmony, and creates a more prosperous Bangladesh. By accelerating action, we can create a future where every woman has the opportunity to thrive, driving sustainable progress and shared prosperity for all.

The writer is President of Dhaka Women Chamber of Commerce & Industry (DWCCI)