​Commission urges more action on gender equality

The National Human Rights Commission of Bangladesh organised a seminar on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Gender Equality involving representatives from government departments, non-governmental organisations and UN agencies on 2 November 2016.

Nurun Naher Osmani, Commission member and Chairperson of the Commission's Thematic Committee, delivered the welcome address.

In his keynote presentation, Akhter Hossain, Commission member, noted that major changes need to be made to the inheritance law in order to promote gender equality.

Kazi Reazul Hoque, Commission Chairperson told the gathering that the Commission, government and civil society organisations were "very active and working hard for the empowerment of women in the country".

However, he also said that Bangladesh needs to do more to promote gender equality.

Discussing the Government's reservations on article 2 and article 16 of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), the Commission Chairperson said it was "high time" to fully comply with all provisions of CEDAW.

Mizanur Rahman, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Women and Children Affairs; Sudipto Mukherjee, Country Director, UNDP- Bangladesh; Christine Hunter, Country Representative, UN WOMEN-Bangladesh; and His Excellency Johan Frisell, Ambassador, Embassy of Sweden addressed the seminar as distinguished guests.

Date: 6 November 2016

Source: National Human Rights Commission of Bangladesh