Global Women Leaders’ Forum

Official opening

National Art Gallery

May 18, 2016

Sofia, Bulgaria

Аddress by Sheikh Hasina, Prime Minister of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh

Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim

Madam Chairperson,

Hon’ble Speaker,

Director General of UNESCO,

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen

Assalamu Alaikum and a Very Good Afternoon to you all.

I am delighted to be here among fellow women leaders – it is truly inspiring! I thank UNESCO and Women Business Forum of Bulgaria for organizing this important event in this beautiful historic city. I also thank the Government of Bulgaria for the warm hospitality extended to me and my delegation since our arrival here.

Empowerment of woman is an issue very close to my heart. I owe my conviction for gender equality and women empowerment from my father Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the Father of the Nation of Bangladesh, who led Bangladesh to independence in 1971.

Bangabandhu desired to transform the country into a prosperous “Sonar Bangla” (Golden Bengal) where women would participate side by side with men to build the nation. He realized at the outset that our development goals cannot be achieved if we leave behind our women, who account for a half of the population.

Taking inspiration from his vision, I have given top priority to gender mainstreaming in all spheres of national life. Our pre-women development strategy is showing excellent results, which is also recognized by the global community.

Madam Chair,

I am committed to breaking all barriers to achieve equality of men and women. One of the major steps taken by my government was to formulate and implement an ambitious and ground-breaking National Women Development Policy, which guarantees equal opportunity and entitlement for women. In this Policy, we have given highest priority to education, and economic and social self-reliance of women.

Women’s participation and engagement as one of the main drivers of national development is firmly embedded in the national development plans and budgets. We spend over 2% of our GDP for social protection coverage. Most of the beneficiaries of social protection are the less fortunate and destitute women.

We have made education free for girls up to Grade 12 and have plans to make it free up to the tertiary level. Nearly 17.2 million students from primary to post-graduate levels have been brought under various stipend programs.  We also offer free meals for students from poorer families, which have helped arrest dropout rate and achieve gender parity at primary and secondary levels.

We have earmarked 60% of teaching positions at the primary level of women. These proactive policies and measures have led to almost 100% enrolment rate at primary school and achieve gender parity.

Distinguished Delegates, Madam Chair,

Alongside education, we have also prioritized on ensuring maternal health and nutrition. We provide reproductive healthcare services to women through 16 thousand 500 Community Clinics and Union Health Centers in addition to established hospitals across the country.

We have introduced Maternal Health Voucher Scheme, which provides a package of three antenatal check-ups, safe delivery by skilled birth attendants and one post-natal check-up among others.

Distinguished Delegates,

Economic empowerment of women can make significant contributions to achieving gender equality. And towards that end, we are emphasizing on creating a conductive work environment for women by ensuring their safety and security, providing them accommodation facilities and introducing day car centres in and around their work places. As a result, our female workforce has risen substantially over the last few years.

Bangladesh is the second largest exporter of readymade garments in the world and women represent 85% of the nearly 4.5 million workforce in that crucial sector.

Participation of women is also growing in other sectors and professions, such as the civil service, the judiciary, armed forces, elite security force and in other technical professions. The print and electronic media are now vibrant with the presence of many women journalists. We have sportswomen excelling in cricket, football and even in mountaineering.

Women are serving in UN peacekeeping operations; women are diplomats; fighter pilots; and leading business entrepreneurs. Bangladeshi women are making important contribution to foreign exchange earnings as migrant workers in various parts of the world. Thus, women in Bangladesh have truly broken all barriers and are now active development agents in the nation-building process.

Madam Chair,

Political empowerment is another area where we have made remarkable strides. We have some outstanding political role models in the country.

Bangladesh is perhaps the only country in the world today that has a woman Prime Minister and Leader of the House, Deputy Leader of House, Leader of the Opposition, and the Speaker. Presently, we have 70 women Members of Parliament (MPs) constituting 20% of the House. We have made it mandatory for all political parties to ensure 30% female membership in their party committees by the year 2020.

We have also introduced a system to elect women vice chairman in various level of local government bodies. One-third or 33% seats are reserved for women in the lowest tier of local government, the Union Councils. Currently, over 12 thousand 500 elected women representatives are serving in the local government bodies.

Through such pragmatic efforts, we have been able to change the traditional mindset of the society, which once looked down upon women’s participation in elections. Now the families not only encourage their female members but also take active part in their electioneering.

Madam Chair,

Despite significant advancement, we also have challenges. We are yet to fully succeed in stopping incidents of violence against women, child marriage or trafficking of women and girls.

We have taken strong steps to end these social evils, through a number of strict laws and administrative measures. We are investing heavily in raising greater social awareness against such crimes and violence.

For instance, we have adopted laws which provide for compensations for victims of violence and trafficking. Child marriages too are being addressed strongly, and we have pledged to eliminate child marriage from Bangladesh at the earliest.

Dear Participants,

I am humbled when our work to address issues related to women’s empowerment receive global recognition. This strengthens my resolve not to give up until we can truly relegate violence against women, child marriages and other such social and customary discrimination to the annals of history.

I am personally grateful to UNESCO for honoring me with the UNESCO “Tree of Peace” Award, which was given for promoting girls’ education and empowerment. I dedicated that to all the oppressed women and girls of my country and the world.

Madam Chair,

We have adopted a transformative 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in New York last year. The new development agenda has placed strong emphasis on gender equality and empowerment of women. Goal 5 in particular and various other related targets added renewed impetus to bring positive changes in the lives of our women and girls.

We should seize this opportunity. I firmly believe that only through concerted efforts nationally and internationally, we can achieve the ambitious goals and targets we have set for ourselves.

We have to work together to create a safer environment for women and girls, equip them with the right skills and education, and empower them as agents of social transformation. And to achieve that, we need sincere commitments, and strong leadership.

I would like to renew my vow to continue to work for women’s empowerment and advancement. And I hope that I will have as partners the global women leaders.

Let us today renew our commitment to make this world a better place for all; a better place for women, where we can live with dignity, free from all fear. Join me in saying that: We Can Do It!

I thank you.

Khoda Hafez.

Joi Bangla, Joi Bangabandhu

May Bangladesh Live Forever