Give women their due share

Participants in a working session of the three-day 'Election 2001: National Policy Forum' said that women candidates should be given at least ten percent of total nomination in the national elections and women related issues should be included in the party platform.

The programme, arranged jointly by the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD), Prothom Alo and The Daily Star, began on Tuesday. Yesterday's policy brief on 'Equality and Empowerment of Women' was held at the Planning and Development Academy.

Prof Rounak Jahan presided over the meeting.The caretaker Government's Advisor in charge of the Ministries of Women and Children Affairs and three other ministries Rokeya A Rahman attended as Special Guest.

Dr Kanij Siddiqui and Dr Faustina Pereira presented the CPD Task Force report. Among others, CPD Chairman Prof Rehman Sobahan and Prothom Alo editor Motiur Rahman attended the session.

The discussants stressed on the need for proper implementation of the existing legislature, amendment of some laws and enactment of new ones to ensure equality between men and women in society.

They identified creation of more employment opportunities and income sources outside household activities, savings facilities at work places, quality education and participation in decision making process as key factors for empowerment of women in the society.

The participants also underscored the need for a separate Ministry for women. They felt that more women should hold key positions in different Ministries and at other bureaucratic establishments.

The Task Force report classified different short and mid-term actions to achieve the 'Equality and Empowerment' goal into six categories: political rights, legal rights, security, safety and economic opportunities, social rights and institutional arrangements.

Rokeya Rahamn, divided the issue of empowerment of women into two main categories economical and political empowerment.

She hoped that in future there will be more job opportunities for women in major industries and more women entrepreneurs will serve at various national and international levels and fields.

The Advisor regretted the total absence of social security for women in Bangladesh." We cannot ensure minimum security for the women in society and the culprits who abuse our security rights are escaping unpunished," she said.

Referring to the CPD's proposal of ensuring safety, particularly to women voters, she said that the caretaker government was considering the issue very seriously.

While presenting the draft report of CPD, Dr Kaniz Siddiqui pointed out the discrimination shown towards women in the general election of 1996.

She provided statistics which showed that the number of female voters were higher than the male in the election. However, the number of directly elected women lawmakers were only seven.

" If we (women) are fifty per cent of the population, where is our representation in the parliament?" she questioned.

Participants in yesterday's session felt that at least 64 seats should be reserved for women in the parliament.

Monaem Sarkar, an Awami League leader, said his party was giving priority to women candidates while considering nomination for the coming election.

" If AL comes back to power we will try to reserve sixty seats for women in the parliament and it will only be possible if the other parties support the plan," he said.

Speakers at the dialogue called for amendment of family and inheritance laws to ensure women's equal access to property.

Sagar Lohani, one of the participants, observed that reflection of religious laws in the existing legislature of the country was the main reason behind the discrimination.

The CPD's recommendation to abolish the current provision for safe custody was debated and the general consensus was that a woman should decide for herself whether to call for it or not.

The session suggested taking necessary actions against 'fatwa' and to increase women's access to education at secondary and higher levels. They also called for initiatives to make the visual media more sensitive about women issues so that it doesn't project negative images of women.