Desk Report:
Chief Advisor Dr. Muhammad Yunus said, one of the top priorities of the interim government is women’s empowerment. This government’s efforts continue to ensure women’s safety, dignity and equal opportunities.
He said this in his speech at the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on Friday (September 26) night.
In his speech, the Chief Advisor said, ‘One of our top priorities is women’s empowerment. In the words of our national poet Kazi Nazrul Islam – “Whatever great creations in the world are eternally beneficial, half of them are done by women, half by men.'”
The Chief Advisor said, ‘In fact, in many important areas of the world today, women contribute more than half. This month, the ‘Unpaid Household Production Satellite Account’ survey was published for the first time in Bangladesh. It shows that more than 85 percent of unpaid care and domestic work is done by women alone, which is worth about 16 percent of our gross domestic product.’
Dr. Yunus added, ‘Despite many adversities, today our girls are overcoming obstacles and succeeding everywhere – from the classroom to the boardroom, from the laboratory to the sports field. Recently, our women’s football team won the regional championship, qualified for the Inter-Asian competition and continues to inspire millions of people across the country.’
The Principal Advisor said, ‘My government’s efforts to ensure the safety, dignity and equal opportunities of women continue.’
Dr. Yunus added, ‘This year we are celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration. On this occasion, to further strengthen our commitment to women’s empowerment, we have announced four national commitments under the “Beijing+30 Action Agenda” with the aim of implementing them in the next five years. These include enacting laws to prevent and protect against sexual harassment; ensuring recognition and appreciation of women’s unpaid care and domestic work; increasing women’s participation in political and public life; and strengthening budgeting systems that are sensitive to women’s equality and empowerment.
