World community's promises for women empowerment not yet fulfilled: HPM Sheikh Hasina

Stating that the promises made by the global leaders in the fourth world conference on women in Beijing in 1995 are yet to be fulfilled while the participation of women parliamentarians is 25 percent and in workforce less than 31 percent, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said that bold policy measures and concerted actions could reverse the situation.

“At Beijing in 1995, the world community made bold commitments for women empowerment. Many of those promises, unfortunately, remain unfulfilled,” she said while addressing an event of the Generation Equality Forum: Paris 2021.

In a recorded statement aired in the event held under the title “Technology and Innovation for Gender Equality” Action Coalition, the Prime Minister also said that globally, women’s participation in politics, economy and labour force is not encouraging.

She added: “Today, only 25% of parliamentarians are women, while women participation in the labour force is still 31% less than men. We must reverse this situation through bold policy measures and concerted actions.”

Noting that women’s empowerment has been a priority of her government, the premier said her government’s “Digital Bangladesh Vision” has meaningfully integrated women in the IT (Information Technology) sector.

She said that they have launched various practical projects aimed at creating women IT professionals and efficient entrepreneurs.

Bangladesh is also using many digital apps in addressing violence against women, Sheikh Hasina said, “In the last three years, over 71,000 girls received cyber awareness training leading to their enhanced safety on cyber platforms.”

The Prime Minister, in continuation to her earlier pledge at the 25th anniversary event of the Beijing Conference, promised this time to increase women’s participation in ICT (Information Communication Technology) sector, including tech start-ups and e-commerce sector to 25 percent by 2026 and 50 percent by 2041.

The Generation Equality Forum is taking place across two events from June 30 to July 2 that kicked off in Mexico City and will finish in Paris.

The Generation Equality Forum is a global movement for gender equality, convened by UN Women and co-hosted by the governments of Mexico and France.

The Forum brings together governments, corporations, NGOs, youth-led groups and Foundations to secure the concrete, ambitious, and transformative commitments for gender equality. These are shaped by the Action Coalitions. They are the world’s roadmap for gender equality.