ISO: BGD *************************************************************************** The electronic version of this document has been prepared at the Fourth World Conference on Women by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in collaboration with the United Nations Fourth World Conference on Women Secretariat. *************************************************************************** AS WRITTEN FOURTH WORLD CONFERENCE ON WOMEN STATEMENT OF THE HON'BLE PRIME MINISTER OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF BANGLADESH BEGUM KHALEDA ZIA BEIJING 04 SEPTEMBER 1995 Bismillahim Rahmanir Rahim Madam Chairperson, Excellencies, Distinguished Delegates, Ladies and Gentlemen, We have gathered here in Beijing for a common purpose, to renew our commitment to the advancement of women. As I stand here in this seat of ancient civilization, I feel inspired by a sense of optimism that the age-old prejudices against women are finally giving way and we are drawing closer to our cherished goal of equality, development and peace. I have no doubt that this World Conference in Beijing will be a landmark in the history of women's struggle towards equality and freedom that began with the holding of the First World Conference on Women 20 years ago in Mexico. I feel privileged to be present here at this historic moment to express Bangladesh's solidarity with you. I would like to express our deep appreciation to the Government of the People's Republic of China for their warm welcome, hospitality and excellent arrangements for this Conference. I congratulate you, Madam, on your election and feel confident that under your able guidance, this Conference will proceed smoothly and complete its heavy agenda. Madam Chairperson, The journey from Mexico to Beijing has been a long one. It was an odyssey that lasted two decades. It was a movement that was marked by a sense of deep commitment and perseverance. But the obstacles and barriers that stood in the way were formidable-foremost being the psychological barriers. But the sense of determination of women the world over was unshakable. A series of conferences sharpened global focus on our concerns. | There was progress, though in varying degrees, in every country of 0 the world. The Nairobi Forward Looking Strategies was the beacon that guided our paths. Gender gaps in education and health narrowed. Female life expectancy increased appreciably. Maternal mortality rates were halved. Differences in literacy between sexes diminished vastly. This record of progress however cannot hide the fact that women still live in an unequal world. While educational and health care opportunities have increased rapidly for women, the doors to economic and political opportunities are not yet fully open to them in many parts of the world. This is clearly evident from the fact that 70 percent of the poor are still women. They are disadvantaged in matters of employment, wages, access to credit and representation in administrative and political levels. Violence and discrimination against women in many societies also remain high. The barbaric atrocities being committed against women in Bosnia is a painful reminder that even in Europe to-day the veneer of civilization and enlightenment is thin indeed. The previous three Women's Conferences succeeded in raising the international community's awareness about these issues. They were instrumental in persuading governments to accelerate their investment in the education and health of their women and in upholding women's rights. The main challenge for the Beijing Conference is to widen the economic and political opportunities which remain constricted uptil now. In Beijing our political will to advance the cause of women must find true and meaningful expression. In this context, this Conference must reiterate three factors that are crucial to the advancement of women: First: That improving the condition of women is a vital investment in the future of humankind. The spin-offs are many. Women are a fundamental force in eradicating poverty, charting a sustainable future and attaining regional and global peace. Second: We must affirm the need for new relationship and harmonious partnership between men and women, governments and citizens, indeed, all those who can contribute solutions to complex social problems. Democracy has fostered a larger civil society and value system. I believe this must be buttressed with a responsible society in which the suportive role of government is indispensable. Finally: We must do everything possible to create, promote and sustain awareness of the role and contribution of women by all means possible. Madam Chairperson, Perhaps it would be appropriate for me to share my country's experience with you. It is well known that in Bangladesh our constraints are numerous and diverse. Yet our commitment remains unflinching. We have made every effort in the last few years to enhance the status of women. We have sought to empower them to enable them to contribute their best to societal progress. We have several significant achievements to our credit. Let me enumerate some of these. Our Constitution guarantees gender equality in all spheres of national life. Legislations are in place to protect the rights of women. We have set up an independent Ministry of Women's Affairs. Government policies are directed towards the mainstreaming of women in our socio-economic development programs. A national Council for Women's Development under the Chairmanship of the Prime Minister has been formed to provide policy guidelines and to oversee the activities of all the Ministries in this area. As is apparent, women in our society have begun to play a key role in politics. They freely participate in national and local elections. To ensure minimal involvement in legislative matters, 10 percent of parliamentary seats are also reserved for women. There are specific quotas for them at all levels of government services. Education for girl students is highly encouraged. Our 0 government has launched innovative schemes to increase their enrolment in schools. Food for Education program is one such novel idea that has paid dividends. Another programme is providing stipends for girl students up to grade ten. Today, in many parts of our country girl students outnumber boys Impartial observers have lauded our progress in health sector as well. Health-care services are now far more readily available. The life t expectancy of women has increased from 54 in 1985 to 57 years in C 1994. Infant mortality rates have been reduced. Women have gained t from the decrease in population growth from 2.35 percent in 1985 to l.9 percent in 1994. One of the most significant transformations that is taking place in Bangladesh today has been the substantial increase in female l employment, both in the urban as well as in the rural areas. Close to a l million women are employed today in the production of ready-made garments alone. Our policy of providing credit without collateral is paying rich dividends. It is estimated that there are well over six million self-employed women engaged mainly in small-scale productive ventures and related activities in the rural areas. While the government itself has made efforts in devising a large number of innovative programs for empowerment, emancipation and E employment of women, I would also like to stress that the s government's efforts have been supplemented by private and non governmental initiatives. The achievement of many of them, specially the Grameen Bank have been remarkable. The seven countries of South Asia which have come together under the umbrella of South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation have given the highest priority to women. In this connection, I would refer to the SAARC declaration of 1991-2000 as the Decade for the Girl Child and the SAARC target for the elimination of absolute poverty, preferably by the Year 2002. Our efforts have certainly been given an added meaning and significance by virtue of the fact that three out of seven SAARC countries today are headed by women who have been placed at the helm of affairs through the ballot box. In Bangladesh we are also poised to undertake appropriate strategic measures and massive programs for empowerment of women during the lt.- Year Perspective Plan beginning from this year. Bangladesh has thus stood stead-fast to the goals and objectives of the Nairobi Forward-Looking Strategies. Our achievements may not have been very spectacular but they are clearly indicative of our determination to realise those goals. Last year in December, a common position paper of the SAARC countries containing five important recommendations was forwarded to the Conference Secretariat. More recently in July this Year, a SAARC Ministerial Meeting on Women was held in Dhaka. The Dhaka Resolution adopted at this meeting stressed the following: -eradication of poverty among women; -survival, protection and development of the girl child; -measures to counter violence against women including trafficking in women and children; -equal access to educational opportunities for women; and -equal access to health-care services and nutrition for women. I believe that this very significant work done under the framework of SAARC has a much wider relevance. We hope that these recommendations will be reflected in the platform of Action to be adopted in Beijing. Similarly, we should draw upon the results of other and international meetings held in the recent past. We can profit enormously from their outcome. The Platform of Action should uphold the religious, cultural and, social values which are instrumental in strengthening -family ties, social peace and stability. I would take this opportunity to mention here that, the teachings and tenets of Islam could positively contribute to the realization of our common goal of equality, development and peace. Madam Chairperson, Our vision for the future world is not for one that is ideal, but 2 for one that is just; not for one that is unattainable, but for one that is achievable. This vision can be transformed into reality, not by mere g commitment, but by matching action. The initiatives taken here in Beijing can be rendered far more meaningful by complementary action elsewhere. There must be a free flow of resources to achieve our goals. There must be commensurate new and additional resources in the form of finance, technical know-how and technology transfer from the developed to the developing world. There must be a more vigorous application of development | policies by the United Nations System and other international fora. There must also be special attention paid to the plight of the Women of the Least Developed Countries. The structural nature of their constraints make their problems mole acute. The global community must be called upon to augment national efforts by international action. This is an opportunity to display the universality of human fraternity. Let the world seize upon it. The Platform of Action adopted in Beijing will, no doubt, have a far- leaching impact on the lives of women for decades to come. However, I believe, what will be of crucial significance is to ensure that there is a good, effective, visible and credible follow-up mechanism in position. In Copenhagen at the Social Summit, I had put forward three specific proposals. One of these proposals related to calling upon the Secretary- General to making the entire UN System more responsive to this new agenda for international cooperation, which we established through a series of landmark conferences in Rio, Cairo, Copenhagen and now here in Beijing. In the case of the follow-up action to the World Conference in Beijing, 1 would like to submit the following three proposals: First: At the United Nations General Assembly this year priority should be given to the creation of a new post of Deputy Secretary-General in charge of Women’s Affairs. Needless to say, this post must be occupied by a woman of proven ability who would be given responsibility for co- ordination of all women's activities and women's programs throughout the UN System. She would also have specific responsibility for the implementation of the Beijing Platform of Action. Second: A high level UN Commission made up entirely of women of great eminence should be established. The members of this Commission would serve in their personal capacities. They could be drawn from different walks Of life. The Commission would put forward specific proposals and suggest programs to facilitate the implementation of the Platform of Action. Above all, it would monitor and evaluate the performance of all UN bodies and agencies on issues relating to women. The several eminent and distinguished women who are holding top positions in the UN System may also be invited to serve in their individual capacity on the Commission. Third: I would like to suggest that the UN Secretary-General takes the lead in instituting an annual award to be given to a woman, whose achievements during the year would earn her the title of: Woman of the Year. The person should be selected by an international jury of great eminence. Perhaps the Secretary-General could invite the distinguished Chairperson of this Conference, to serve as the first Chairperson of the International Jury. Madam Chairperson, My three proposals relate primarily to the international community and specifically to women of great eminence who have a global vision. While considering these proposals, we must not forget tile millions of women in our own countries, who struggle day and night to improve the quality of their lives and contribute in their own modest way to female emancipation, enlightenment and empowerment. National awards can be instituted for these women, who have contributed in their own modest way to the uplift of women in their respective countries. In doing so, we shall endeavour to remember the significance of the World Conference on Women in Beijing. In so doing, we shall pay tribute to the sacrifice and contribution made by countless generations of women. In so doing, we hope we shall also inspire our youth and future generations of girls to look ahead with a sense of confidence in their true Worth, dignity and capability. Madam Chairperson, I came to Beijing with a sense of great hope and expectation. I shall not leave disappointed. On the contrary, my sense of determination to continue to work for tile women of Bangladesh, for their betterment, for their happiness and well-being has been fortified and strengthened. True, the task is enormous but I know that today the world stands behind us. We shall support, sustain and encourage each other in facing the challenges ahead. We must succeed and indeed we will. Thank you.