Gender Equity is an Essential Prerequisite for a Strong Democracy: Speaker

Self Correspondent: Bangladesh National Parliament Speaker Dr. Shireen Sharmin Chowdhury MP said gender equality is an important means to achieve the larger goals of equitable, inclusive and sustainable development. He said gender equality is an essential prerequisite for a strong democracy.

The speaker said these things at the "Women Speakers Summit" organized by the National Assembly in Paris, France on March 07 (Thursday).

Earlier, a meeting of 25 women speakers from around the world was held this morning at the Elysee Palace with French President Emmanuel Macron. Later, French National Assembly President Yael Braun inaugurated the Pivot Summit.

The first round table meeting on 'Education in Equality, Health and Fight Against Violence Towards Women' and the second round table meeting on 'Gender Equality, Parity and Empowerment in Politics, Female Role Model' were held.

Dr. Shirin Sharmin Chowdhury said that the constitution of Bangladesh has ensured equal rights of men and women in all areas of state and public life. There are fifty reserved seats for women in the National Parliament and women can also become MPs through direct election.

She said that instead of thirty-three percent of women in political parties, there are currently twenty-two to twenty-four percent. She further added that in order to increase the participation of women through direct elections, political parties should nominate more women. Appropriate laws and policies must be adopted in this regard.

The speaker also said that gender sensitive budgeting is very important for women empowerment. Financial and logistic support as well as market access should be ensured for women entrepreneurs. She added that education and training in technology should be ensured for women to get used to the ICT sector.

She further told, due to the efficient leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, significant progress has been made in the expansion of women's education in the country. There is parity in the student-student ratio at the primary and secondary levels. Nowadays women are also encouraged to pursue higher education. She informed that various policies are being adopted to advance women's education as well as providing free books and scholarships, which are helping to prevent child marriage.

25 women speakers from around the world including France, Mexico, Madagascar, Indonesia, Cambodia, South Africa, Kiribati, Spain, Belgium, Ukraine, Bahamas, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, Tanzania, Germany participated in the summit.