1 ministry of women and children affairs presented by: ms. khurshid zahan haque mp minister for...

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MINISTRY OF WOMEN MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN AFFAIRSAND CHILDREN AFFAIRS

Presented by:Presented by:Ms. Khurshid Zahan Haque MPMs. Khurshid Zahan Haque MPMinister for Women and Children AffairsMinister for Women and Children Affairs

A PresentationA Presentation

Bangladesh Development Forum

9 May 2004

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WOMEN AND CHILDREN WOMEN AND CHILDREN ADVANCEMENT AND RIGHTSADVANCEMENT AND RIGHTS

Bangladesh is a developing country having a total Bangladesh is a developing country having a total population of 129.2 million where women population of 129.2 million where women constitute 49.5% and women and children constitute 49.5% and women and children together constitute 70% of the total population.together constitute 70% of the total population.

• Government of Bangladesh has firm commitment Government of Bangladesh has firm commitment towards attaining gender equality through towards attaining gender equality through women’s empowerment and children’s needs, women’s empowerment and children’s needs, issues, priorities and rights.issues, priorities and rights.

• Ministry of Women and Children Affairs is the lead Ministry of Women and Children Affairs is the lead Ministry for gender and development and children Ministry for gender and development and children advancement; It acts as watchdog to oversee the advancement; It acts as watchdog to oversee the gender issues implemented by other Ministries;gender issues implemented by other Ministries;

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COMMITMENT MADE FOR WOMEN COMMITMENT MADE FOR WOMEN ADVANCEMENT IN THE LAST BDFADVANCEMENT IN THE LAST BDF

• Undertake a social audit and analysis to determine the Undertake a social audit and analysis to determine the poverty status of women in all sectors and in rural and urban poverty status of women in all sectors and in rural and urban settings.settings.

• Reinforce the mechanism to implement laws affecting women.Reinforce the mechanism to implement laws affecting women.

• Advocate for implementation and allocation of resources for Advocate for implementation and allocation of resources for Gender Equality Strategy and Maternal Health Strategy within Gender Equality Strategy and Maternal Health Strategy within the Health, Nutrition and Population Sector Program (HNPSP)the Health, Nutrition and Population Sector Program (HNPSP)

• Creating effective safety-net for distressed and vulnerable Creating effective safety-net for distressed and vulnerable women and children through social protection program women and children through social protection program

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COMMITMENT MADE FOR CHILDREN COMMITMENT MADE FOR CHILDREN ADVANCEMENT IN THE LAST BDFADVANCEMENT IN THE LAST BDF

• Prepare a National Plan of Action for Children in line with Prepare a National Plan of Action for Children in line with MDGs and a World Fit for Children AgendaMDGs and a World Fit for Children Agenda

• Establish an Independent Commission for Children to act Establish an Independent Commission for Children to act as watch dog for achieving children’s advancement and as watch dog for achieving children’s advancement and rights.rights.

• Combating child sexual abuse and child sexual exploitation Combating child sexual abuse and child sexual exploitation including traffickingincluding trafficking

• Preparatory work to establish a Children’s Directorate to Preparatory work to establish a Children’s Directorate to implement the CRC and NPA for children in line with MDGimplement the CRC and NPA for children in line with MDG

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ACCOMPLISHMENTS AFTER THE LAST ACCOMPLISHMENTS AFTER THE LAST BDF: WOMEN ADVANCEMENT AND BDF: WOMEN ADVANCEMENT AND RIGHTSRIGHTS

• Production of Draft Report On Women Production of Draft Report On Women Advancement and Rights for PRSP with the Advancement and Rights for PRSP with the following focus :following focus :

- Gender dimensions and determinants - Gender dimensions and determinants of women’s poverty;of women’s poverty;

- Strategies and interventions for - Strategies and interventions for women’s advancement and rights;women’s advancement and rights;

- Medium Term Policy Matrix for FY - Medium Term Policy Matrix for FY 2004-2006 indicating sectors, challenges, 2004-2006 indicating sectors, challenges, interventions already taken and interventions already taken and interventions to be taken (2004-2006)interventions to be taken (2004-2006)

- Monitoring and Evaluation Indicators.- Monitoring and Evaluation Indicators.

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• Initiatives have been taken to develop a Initiatives have been taken to develop a Program Based Approach through Program Based Approach through prioritization and best use of available prioritization and best use of available resources in partnership with resources in partnership with development partners.development partners.

• Special Project on Social Protection and Special Project on Social Protection and Safety Net Development for Safety Net Development for disadvantaged women and children has disadvantaged women and children has been undertaken after thorough review been undertaken after thorough review of the existing situation and an of the existing situation and an extensive need assessment.extensive need assessment.

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• Programs of food assistance have Programs of food assistance have targeted the ultra-poor women at 467 targeted the ultra-poor women at 467 Upazillas. Upazillas.

• Initiatives have been taken to address Initiatives have been taken to address food leakage.food leakage.

• Women and Children Repression Act Women and Children Repression Act 2000 was amended in 2003 to ensure 2000 was amended in 2003 to ensure improved and effective enforcement to improved and effective enforcement to protect women from domestic violence protect women from domestic violence and trafficking.and trafficking.

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• Speedy Trial Act and Special Tribunals Speedy Trial Act and Special Tribunals are in operation for enforcement and are in operation for enforcement and quick disposal of cases regarding quick disposal of cases regarding violence against women. violence against women.

• Safe-custody homes for women and Safe-custody homes for women and adolescent girls-under- trial have been adolescent girls-under- trial have been functioning. Also a functioning. Also a legal aid fundlegal aid fund has has been established for women and been established for women and children in prison or under trial.children in prison or under trial.

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• DNA Lab and hot-line services have DNA Lab and hot-line services have been introduced at the One-Stop-Crisis been introduced at the One-Stop-Crisis Center to provide quick assistance to Center to provide quick assistance to the victims of violence. the victims of violence.

• In joint cooperation with MOHFW In joint cooperation with MOHFW strategies have been developed and strategies have been developed and supported to address maternal supported to address maternal mortality, child mortality and the mortality, child mortality and the nutrition status of women and children.nutrition status of women and children.

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ACCOMPLISHMENTS AFTER THE LAST ACCOMPLISHMENTS AFTER THE LAST BDF: WOMEN ADVANCEMENT AND BDF: WOMEN ADVANCEMENT AND

RIGHTSRIGHTS

• Special program for awareness about Special program for awareness about HIV/AIDS has been undertaken.HIV/AIDS has been undertaken.

• Actions are being taken to develop a Actions are being taken to develop a social movement against dowry.social movement against dowry.

• Nation-wide road marches are organized Nation-wide road marches are organized as a protest to combat dowry, domestic as a protest to combat dowry, domestic violence, acid throwing and trafficking of violence, acid throwing and trafficking of women and children.women and children.

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• Gender responsive migration policy Gender responsive migration policy is in the process of finalization. is in the process of finalization.

• Through the initiative of free Through the initiative of free education for girls up to class 12 education for girls up to class 12 drop-out rates have been reduced drop-out rates have been reduced and gender parity at primary and gender parity at primary education has been achieved.education has been achieved.

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• One International University for Women has One International University for Women has been established.been established.

• Women Studies Department has been Women Studies Department has been introduced at the Dhaka University.introduced at the Dhaka University.

• Initiatives have been taken to develop Initiatives have been taken to develop Gender responsive curriculum in 4 Training Gender responsive curriculum in 4 Training Institutes of GOB officials – BPATC, NAEM, Institutes of GOB officials – BPATC, NAEM, BCS Administration Academy, and Academy BCS Administration Academy, and Academy for Planning and Development.for Planning and Development.

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• Issue-based consultations and Issue-based consultations and dialogue between GOB, Women’s dialogue between GOB, Women’s organizations and civil society are organizations and civil society are being organized regarding the being organized regarding the implementation of CEDAW and implementation of CEDAW and National Action Plan for National Action Plan for Advancement of Women.Advancement of Women.

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ACCOMPLISHMENTS AFTER THE LAST ACCOMPLISHMENTS AFTER THE LAST BDF: CHILDREN ADVANCEMENT AND BDF: CHILDREN ADVANCEMENT AND RIGHTSRIGHTS

• Draft Report on Children Advancement and Draft Report on Children Advancement and Rights for PRSP has been prepared for the first Rights for PRSP has been prepared for the first time which contains:time which contains:

- status of child rights program;- status of child rights program;

- Children’s needs- Children’s needs

- Program planning matrix highlighting - Program planning matrix highlighting objectives, strategies, activities, objectives, strategies, activities, implementation plan and lead agency;implementation plan and lead agency;

- Monitoring and Evaluation Indicators.- Monitoring and Evaluation Indicators.

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• NPA for Children (2004-9) has been NPA for Children (2004-9) has been formulated where the following 5 formulated where the following 5 areas have been highlighted:areas have been highlighted:

Education, Health, Protection, Education, Health, Protection, Food and nutrition and Physical Food and nutrition and Physical Environment. Environment.

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• Government has taken positive Government has taken positive steps to establish an Independent steps to establish an Independent Commission for Children which will Commission for Children which will act as a “watch dog” to ensure act as a “watch dog” to ensure effective implementation of NPA for effective implementation of NPA for children, CRC, SEACT and MDG and children, CRC, SEACT and MDG and World Fit for Children Agenda. World Fit for Children Agenda.

• This will also promote and ensure This will also promote and ensure children’s rights, priority and children’s rights, priority and visibility in the Government’s visibility in the Government’s policies. policies.

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• Government has taken steps to implement Government has taken steps to implement ‘whole child concept’ through ‘Early Child-hood ‘whole child concept’ through ‘Early Child-hood Development Program’ from 0-05 years of age Development Program’ from 0-05 years of age focusing Nutrition, good behavior, parental focusing Nutrition, good behavior, parental care and pre-school learning. care and pre-school learning.

• Empowerment of rural adolescent girls Empowerment of rural adolescent girls

addressed through a pilot project in 32 addressed through a pilot project in 32 districts: mid-term evaluation shows a districts: mid-term evaluation shows a decrease of early marriage and dowry related decrease of early marriage and dowry related marriage.marriage.

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• The issue of increasing the age of The issue of increasing the age of criminal responsibility for children is criminal responsibility for children is under consideration.under consideration.

• Preparatory works to establish a Preparatory works to establish a Children’s Directorate to implement CRC Children’s Directorate to implement CRC and NPA for Children in line with the and NPA for Children in line with the MDG. MDG.

• Combating Child Sexual Abuse and Child Combating Child Sexual Abuse and Child Sexual Exploitation Including Trafficking Sexual Exploitation Including Trafficking is an on-going pilot project.is an on-going pilot project.

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PLAN AHEAD FOR WOMEN AND PLAN AHEAD FOR WOMEN AND CHILDREN ADVANCEMENT AND CHILDREN ADVANCEMENT AND RIGHTSRIGHTS

• To promote micro-entrepreneurship at To promote micro-entrepreneurship at the grassroots level and to ensure fair the grassroots level and to ensure fair price for the growers a concept paper on price for the growers a concept paper on ‘One district–one product’ has been ‘One district–one product’ has been developed. developed.

• Initiatives have been taken for inclusion Initiatives have been taken for inclusion of relevant articles in the law for of relevant articles in the law for effective implementation of SAARC effective implementation of SAARC Convention on Preventing and Convention on Preventing and Combating Trafficking in Women and Combating Trafficking in Women and Children for Prostitution.Children for Prostitution.

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• Government has taken steps to Government has taken steps to withdraw the reservation on the withdraw the reservation on the UN-CEDAW Article no. 16.1(C) to UN-CEDAW Article no. 16.1(C) to protect women’s human rights.protect women’s human rights.

• Several initiatives taken to increase Several initiatives taken to increase women’s access to justice.women’s access to justice.

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• Improve representation of women at all level of Improve representation of women at all level of government.government.

• Increase accountability for delivery of improved services Increase accountability for delivery of improved services to women.to women.

• Advocate for CEDAW and NAP implementation amongst Advocate for CEDAW and NAP implementation amongst all line Ministries.all line Ministries.

• Engender National Budget to restructure and target the Engender National Budget to restructure and target the allocation of public expenditures to promote women’s allocation of public expenditures to promote women’s economic opportunities and equal access to productive economic opportunities and equal access to productive resources as per PRSP.resources as per PRSP.

• Strengthening creation of gender disaggregated date Strengthening creation of gender disaggregated date and gender sensitive research.and gender sensitive research.


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• A Counter Trafficking Framework Report A Counter Trafficking Framework Report on Bangladesh Perspective has been on Bangladesh Perspective has been finalized to address trafficking in person finalized to address trafficking in person from multi-ministerial and multi-from multi-ministerial and multi-dimensional approach through two dimensional approach through two separate programs – one for women and separate programs – one for women and the other for children.the other for children.

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Thank YouThank You

1 ministry of women and children affairs presented by: ms. khurshid zahan haque mp minister for...

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