National Policy Review Forum 2003

WOMEN’S EMPOWERMENT AND TODAY’S REALITIES:

FROM THE POINT OF VIEW OF ACCOUNTABILITY
Introduction
Gender based discrimination is a violation of human right; however it prevails in
Bangladesh in an alarming scale. In a democratic society such discrimination is
unacceptable among all citizens particularly women. Women play important roles and
undertake major responsibilities in all spheres of life. In politics women constitute
half the voting constituency. Thus discrimination against women has to be reduced
and eventually eliminated in an effective manner. Towards that the task force on
“Women’s Empowerment and National Development” before election of 2001 made
demands to the caretaker government, political parties and to the government.

There are three main objectives of this post-election policy analysis. First, to assess
what were the commitments made by the political parties during pre-election period,
and; secondly to assess what actions the government has taken thus far towards
achieving those pre-election promises and thirdly, to recommend actions for reducing
gender disparity through empowerment of women. Before election of 2001, the policy
brief of the task force on “National Development and Women’s Empowerment”
demanded mainly violence free election and the demands were geared towards the
caretaker government, political parties and to the next elected governments

Demands to the Caretaker Government and the Political Parties

Caretaker Government
Before Election Reality

Ensure safety to all voters, particularly Election took place without any major
women voters so that they are able to vote incidence of violence, particularly against
freely without any threat of violence women.
Political Parties
Give at least 10 percent nominations to No party acted accordingly
women candidates for the general seats
Conduct violence free election campaign Election campaign was largely violence
free
Include women’s issue into the election BNP, Awami League, Jamati Islam,
manifesto National Party, Bangladesh Communist
Party of Bangladesh, Left Democratic
Front etc.
Do not give nomination to candidates Not known
who have expressed discriminatory
attitude towards women
Demands to the Government
Task force made demands to the elected government in six different areas – political
rights, legal rights, Security and safety, Economic opportunities, Social rights, and
Institutional arrangements followed by some recommendations of actions to be taken.

Women’s Empowerment and Today’s Realities: From the Point of View of Accountability 1
National Policy Review Forum 2003

1. Political Rights

Ensure women’s participation in the political decision making

process at all levels
Actions to be taken:
In the short term
Ø Make quota provision on reserved seats for women representatives in the
national parliament through direct election and arrange election within two-three
months after the new government come to power.

Pre-election Commitments by
BNP To strengthen women's role in the parliament, reserve
seat will be increased and appropriate steeps will be
taken to hold direct election.
Awami League The number of reserved seats for women in the
Parliament will be doubled to 60 and direct elections
will be introduced.
Jamaat-e-Islami The number of reserved women seat in the Parliament
Bangladesh will be increased.
Jatiya Party (Earshad) Reserved women’s seat will be raised to 64 from 30
after due amendment to the constitution.
Bangladesh Communist Reserved women seat in the parliament through direct
Party election will be introduced.
Statements made by
Islami Jatiya Oikya Front Increase number of women’s reserved seats if
demanded.
Krishak Sramik Janata Women in Bangladesh have not attained the capability
League and efficiency to run the state.
What happened in reality?

None of the
BNP lead parties in opposition
government is in powermade any issue
with more thanabout government's
two third majority, non-
however
delivery on this commitment
has not taken any measures toward this commitment
In the medium term
Ø Sensitise all members of parliament and elected members of local government
on discrimination against women and their roles in removing these
discriminations.
Ø Include women members of parliament in all standing committees.
Ø Take actions to make women’s participation in local government and
parliament meaningful.
Ø Ensure that all parliamentary standing committees hold public hearings on
women’s issues.
Ø Appoint women member of the parliament as chairpersons of various
parliamentary standing committees
Ø Allow local women leaders to undertake responsible positions in the decision-
making.
Ø Ensure that local government consults with local women’s organizations and
women leaders in making decisions on important issues.

Women’s Empowerment and Today’s Realities: From the Point of View of Accountability 2
National Policy Review Forum 2003

Reality with Respect to Political Rights

Ø There is a government instruction to include women and sometime women are
included in some committees but not in a systematic and meaningful manner.
Ø No parliamentary standing committees have yet been formed.
Ø Local election took place, however the roles and responsibilities of the elected
representatives from women seats in the Union Parishad have been curtailed.
For example they are no longer allowed to give character, residency
certificates. Also women are given the responsibilities of dealing with
violence against women. This is very difficult for the women to undertake
because it is part of terrorism, which the entire police force can not deal with.
How can women member deal with such a difficult situation?
2. Legal Rights

Treat women and men equally under law

Actions to be taken
In the short term
Ø Immediately withdraw reservations from CEDAW.
Ø Amend Citizenship Act and Order to allow women the rights to transmit their
citizenship to their children & spouses.
Ø Strongly implement existing laws on sexual harassment and sexual assault.
Ø Include domestic violence against women as a punishable offence in the Nari
o Shishu Nirjaton Daman Ain 2000.
Ø Amend Nari o Shishu Nirjaton Daman Ain 2000, to allow women the right to
express their consent in matters of safe custody.
Ø Amend Nari o Shishu Nirjaton Daman Ain 2000 to provide in camera trials in
cases of rape or as demanded.
Ø Widen the scope of the Family Courts Ordinance to allow its jurisdiction over
all of Bangladesh, and all religious groups.
In the medium run
Ø Identify and remove gender discrimination in laws such as the Criminal
Procedure Code, the Civil Procedure Code and Evidence Act
Ø Introduce and enforce sexual harassment laws
Ø Introduce equal employment opportunity laws and ensure equal wage for
similar work.
Ø Reform the family and inheritance laws to ensure women’s equal access to
property
Ø Amend the Guardians and Wards Act 1890 to facilitate adoption of children.
Ø Introduce equal housing opportunities laws
Ø Provide institutional recognition to alternative dispute resolution or shalish
that takes place in the village
Ø Provide social and legal awareness to men as agents against VAW.
Ø Ensure regular submission of women’s status report to CEDAW committee by
the government.
Pre-election Commitments by
BNP Will take appropriate legal measures and rigorously
implement them to stop social and family violence
against women.
Dowry law will be strictly implemented

Women’s Empowerment and Today’s Realities: From the Point of View of Accountability 3
National Policy Review Forum 2003

Consolidate, strengthen and strictly implement the Nari o

Shishu Nirjaton Daman Ain 2000.
Legal assistance will be made available to the needy
women
Women and children trafficking issue will be dealt with
effectively with international collaboration
Jamaat-e-Islami Effective steps shall be taken to provide due honor upon
Bangladesh the women and protection of their right.
All kind of repression on women and children including
acid throwing, dowry system shall be curbed effectively.
Jatiya Party (Earshad) Family Court will be reestablished to further strengthened
and protect the rights of women.
Bangladesh Communist Withdraw reservations from CEDAW.
Party Reform the family and inheritance laws and introduce
uniform civil and family laws
Left Democratic Front Fully implement CEDAW.
Reform the family and inheritance laws and introduce
uniform civil codes
Reality with Respect to Legal Rights
Ø Introduced quick tribunal and some of the sensational cases of violence
against women are being tried in the court
Ø Introducing laws so that women victim of rape or other violence can undertake
GD entry through the doctor
Ø Introduced death sentence for the perpetrator of acid violence
Ø Nari o Shishu Nirjaton Daman Ain is being amended to prevent it misuse and
to introduce punishment for rape.
Ø To withdraw reservation from CEDAW the MOWCA has sent a request to the
Law ministry
Ø Amending of the citizenship act and pension act is almost finalized
3. Security and Safety
Improve safety for women and stop violence against women
Actions to be taken
In the short term
Ø Ensure fast track trial procedures particularly for victims of VAW.
Ø Allocate sufficient funds for the trial of VAW
Ø Allocate funds for providing protection to victims of VAW in case of such
demand.
Ø Ensure regular jail visits by civil society members, particularly women visitors
and lawyers
In the Medium Run
Ø Allocate sufficient amount of money, human and other resources for
restoration of security particularly for women.
Ø Allocate sufficient money for hiring women crime-prevention officers and
women doctors.
Ø Introduce effective one stop help center at the Thana level for victims of
violence with sufficient human resources and funds.
Ø Provide security for witnesses and introduce effective long-term witness
protection program.

Women’s Empowerment and Today’s Realities: From the Point of View of Accountability 4
National Policy Review Forum 2003

Reality with Respect to Security and Safety

Ø Started One-Stop-Crisis Center in all Divisional head quarters including
Dhaka.
Ø Member of civil society are allowed to visit central jail for monitoring
condition of female victim.
Ø Established a DNA Laboratory in One Stop Crisis center of Dhaka.
4. Economic Opportunities

Create opportunities for women to participate in income-

generating activities at all levels

Actions to be taken
In the short term
Ø Improve women’s employment opportunities and wages outside households’
activities.
Ø Undertake affirmative measures through sufficient budgetary allocation to
ensure women’s access to and safety in the public space.
Ø Ensure agriculture extension services for women and women’s participation in
market places and their access to local water resources for fishery production.
In the medium run
Ø Increase women’s income earning ability by providing training in undertaking
business.
Ø Increase availability of funds for giving medium size credits to women and
encourage women in business.
Ø Increase scope for loans on easy terms for abandoned women.
Ø Facilitate collateral provisions for women who do not own land.
Ø Introduce vocational skill-training facilities for women particularly in tech
industry and in information technology
Ø Distribute Khas land in the name of the female heads of households.
Ø Make provision for garment workers to participate in equity ownership in the
garment industry
Ø Provide banking facilities for garment workers at their work place.
Ø Provide home banking facilities to support women’s savings habits.
Ø Formulate economic policies to reduce discrimination against women and
formulate the national budget showing how women and men are going to
benefit from allocations
Ø Support household activities through the national budget. For example, by
ensuring supplying of inexpensive energy source such as gas to the
households.
Ø Introduce home delivery system of information through mobile library etc.
Ø Introduce E-business facilities in the rural areas for marketing of local
products.
Ø Recognize, include and highlight women’s contribution in carrying both
household and income generating activities in the National Income
Accounting.
Pre-Election Commitments by
BNP Employment opportunity shall be provide for economically
distressed women including widows according to their
abilities

Women’s Empowerment and Today’s Realities: From the Point of View of Accountability 5
National Policy Review Forum 2003

Arrange training for rural women about safe motherhood,

Childcare, Family planning, Agricultural & environment.
For increasing employments and income generation, micro-
credit shall be provided by the Government and NGO.
Jamaat-e-Islami Steps shall be taken to rehabilitate distressed and shelter less
Bangladesh women including widows.
Communist Party of Establish equality between men and women in work and
Bangladesh payment of wages
Left Democratic Eliminate discriminations between men and women in work
Front and wages.

Reality with Respect to Economics Opportunities

Ø Extending Micro Credit to the poor and starting new initiative for promoting
small and medium women entrepreneurs.
Ø Undertaking training program by MOWCA for skill development of the
women garments workers as a preparation to deal with post MFA situation
anticipated for the Garment sector.
5. Social Rights

Remove all social and cultural practices, which are biased against women

Actions to be taken
In the short term
Ø Undertaken initiative to start a social movement towards removing
discrimination against women
Ø Take actions to eliminate practice of ‘Fatwa’ in resolving conflicts of any
kinds
Ø Declare 30th September as the “girl-child-day.”
In the Medium Run
Ø Take actions towards changing current education curriculum to eliminate
biases against women, and include legal, human and women right issues
Ø Increase women’s access to education at secondary and higher levels by
providing school bus, toilet, and hostel etc. in addition to free education and
scholarships for girls.
Ø Increase access to health care facilities, primary health care and nutrition
training.
Ø Design transport facilities by incorporating special needs of women and
ensuring safety in using transport facilities.
Ø Set up more effective parent-teacher associations, and pinpoint links with
community as deterrents to violence.
Ø Increase sports facilities for women particularly in the rural areas in the
schools.
Pre-election Commitments by
BNP Extend free education and female stipend up to class XII and
to urban areas.
Adult literacy program shall be provided for the women.
Effected measure shall be taken for reducing death related to
childbirth.
Measure shall be taken for reducing maternal death rate.
Jamaat-e-Islami Eliminate women in sex work and arrange for their

Women’s Empowerment and Today’s Realities: From the Point of View of Accountability 6
National Policy Review Forum 2003

Bangladesh rehabilitation
Bangladesh Remove all discriminations, injustice and social oppressions
Communist Party and provide them with equal status and rights in the society.
Change negative and stereotype portrayal of women in the
mass media.
Left Democratic
Front
Reality with Respect to Social Rights
Ø Started countrywide awareness raising program about H.I.V. and AIDS.
Ø Undertook countrywide awareness raising rallies and marches against violence
and on laws on violence.
Ø Started Hot Line System for women who’s are afraid of becoming victim of
violence.
Ø Extended free education for women and female stipend up to class XII and to
urban areas.
6. Institutional Arrangements
Remove institutional biases against women
Actions to be taken
In the short term
Ø Recruit women in high positions in the government administration through
lateral entry.
Ø Provide VAW training to police and medical personnel; establish links
between women’s groups and police; appoint more women judges; set up
more legal aid mechanisms for women; use family health visitors to identify
domestic violence cases
Ø Make ‘Women in Development (WID)’ focal points more effective by
defining their roles and responsibilities.
Ø Build formal contacts with women’s organizations and consult women’s
organizations in taking major policy decisions and project designs.
Ø Stop giving public money to any institution that promotes or tolerates
discrimination against women.
Ø Include in official forms and documents provision for mother’s name in
addition to father’s name.
In the Medium Run
Ø Recruit women in the government at all levels with the objective of attaining
50 % participation of woman.
Ø Recruit more women in the military force.
Ø Conscientize the visual media about negative images of women and introduce
gender focal points in Bangladesh TV and Film Development Corporations.
Ø Introduce more women police, and special cells for women’s complaints.
Ø Undertake effective sensitization programs on discrimination against women
for the police and judges, officials and other cadres’ training program.
Ø Incorporate women’s representation on land distribution committees.
Ø Create a safe and supportive work environment and introduce daycare
facilities in the government offices and in the large private organizations.
Pre-election Commitments by
BNP Increase employments rate and upgrade promotion in service
shall be taken for female.
Increase hostels in different towns for the working women.

Women’s Empowerment and Today’s Realities: From the Point of View of Accountability 7
National Policy Review Forum 2003

Preference shall be given to the rural women in primary school

teacher, family planning and social welfare activities.
Special monitoring system about security and opportunities in
work place shall be provided for the workingwomen.
Jamaat-e-Islami In accordance with the women's right in Islam, women will be
Bangladesh given opportunity to work.
Bangladesh Undertake steps towards positive dissemination in favor of
Communist Party women to balance past negative discrimination
Reality with Respect to Institutional Arrangements
Ø Established safe home under supervision of MOWCA for women and child
who’s violate the law but not convicted.
Ø Withdrew partially ban on women workers going abroad and allowed women
above 35 years age to work abroad.
Ø Building capacity under newly established Manpower Development and
Export Ministry for providing safety to women workers and lifting ban on
women going abroad to work.
Ø Introducing 60% of quota system for female in appointing teacher in the
primary school.
Ø Started female bus service in Dhaka city.
Conclusion
First: We Observe and Remain Highly Concern

Ø One of major failure of the government is its non-compliance of election

promise with respect to women in the parliament.

Ø Political power of the women representatives (which was weak and

undefined to start with) at the local government is eroding.

Ø Violence against women increased in an alarming rate. Violence against

women is used as tool for political rivalry and other disputes.

Second: Our Demand to the Government

Ø Government needs to fulfill its own election commitments within a

meaningful timeframe.

Ø Government needs to effectively and in a timely manner implement

various measures it has already put in place.

Ø Include gender issues in a comprehensive manner in National Poverty

Reduction Strategy of Bangladesh and ensure its effective
implementation.

Women’s Empowerment and Today’s Realities: From the Point of View of Accountability 8