Bangladesh prime minister calls on countries to work together to close gender gap

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said a country cannot achieve “equality, stability, dignity and peace” without women’s participation at all decision-making levels including politics.

She urged all countries to work to close gender gap in a video message played at the closing of the Women in Parliaments (WIP) Global Forum’s annual meeting in Ethiopia’s capital Addis Ababa on Wednesday.

The foreign ministry on Thursday said Hasina reminded the summit participants, mostly women lawmakers, that reducing gender gap was “essential” for a participatory democracy.

Bangladesh received WIP Award this year for regional leadership in narrowing the gender difference.

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam received the award on behalf of the prime minister.

The prime minister highlighted women’s achievements in Bangladesh in all sectors including politics, administration, defence, peace-keeping, and economic development.

She said it was “due to genuine political will of the government”.

Hasina once again reiterated Bangladesh’s position to keep gender equality and women’s empowerment at the “centre” of the post-2015 development agenda.

She reaffirmed her commitment “to establish women’s rights and eradicate gender-based violence and discrimination from the society”.

The foreign ministry said the prime minister sent the video message to express Bangladesh’s “commitment to, and solidarity with, the cause of the Summit”.