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S Asian Conference of Women MPs

Call for greater role of women in politics

Staff Correspondent
Women legislators from eight South Asian countries yesterday at a conference in the capital stressed the need for increasing women's participation in the mainstream political process and policy formulation.
The four-day long conference on the
role of women MPs in advancing gender responsive governance in South Asia began in the city's Hotel Radisson.
With participation of over 100 women lawmakers, the event is being organised to ensure effective role of women leaders across the region.
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Women MPs from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, and parliamentary experts, civil society members and high-ranking government officials are attending the meeting.
The conference, first of its kind, is jointly hosted by the USAID, The Asia Foundation and UK aid.
Participants in several sessions discussed bringing gender equality to the forefront of national politics, women’s wing of political parties, gender-responsive budgeting and other related issues.
Media, however, was not allowed to cover all the sessions except for the brief inaugural part of the conference.
Addressing the inaugural session as the chief guest, Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury, deputy leader of the House, said Bangladesh is internationally recognised for ensuring women's participation in politics and its position in the world is 11 in this regard.
“Seven women won from Awami League in the 1970
general elections of the then National Assembly of Pakistan. And now we have 69 female MPs in the 9th parliament, which is around 20 percent of the total seats,” she mentioned.
Sajeda observed that the conference is especially important as it will create opportunity to learn from each other and build linkages by strengthening communication within and across borders.
She said Bangladesh has used the gender-based quota system [in parliament] to integrate women in politics and enable women compete on a level playing field.
Agriculture Minister Matia Chowdhury said from the early days of civilisation, women have been playing a key role, especially in the field of agriculture. "It's women who preserve the seeds and go for cultivation. ”
Women in rural Bangladesh, she noted, also play a vital role in decisionmaking in the agricultural sector and are also involved in poultry and livestock produc-tion. "For Bangladeshi women, sky is the limit. ”
Nick Low, acting British
high commissioner to Bangladesh, said the conference will promote a more effective role for women leaders across South Asia through increased communication.
Carla Koppell, senior coordinator for Gender for Equality and Women's Empowerment at the USAID, said enduring democracy cannot be achieved without women's participation in every decision-making.
Women must be empowered meaningfully, she insisted adding, Bangladesh has been a pioneer in empowering women.
Mahfuzur Rahman, secretary in charge of Bangladesh Parliament Secretariat, Suzanne Siskel, executive vice-president and chief operating officer of The Asia Foundation, spoke, among others.
Organisers said a regional network of women parliamentarians is likely to be formed, while a secretariat would be established to serve as a regional coordination centre for supporting women legislators of the eight participating countries.