Ministry of Women and Children Affairs charts path to implement Beijing+30 agenda

The Ministry of Women and Children Affairs convened a stirring gathering in Dhaka today—a multi-stakeholder consultation to reflect on the resounding echoes of the 69th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW69). With the steadfast support of UN Women Bangladesh, this assembly sought not only to disseminate the session's outcomes but to chart a visionary yet pragmatic path to implement the Beijing+30 agenda within Bangladesh's borders.

The Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, born in 1995 from the collective will of 189 nations, remains a beacon for gender equality and women's rights across the globe. Three decades on, the CSW69 session convened at the United Nations Headquarters in New York to reaffirm this commitment. Today's consultation embraced the spirit of that historic pledge, bringing together high-level representatives from ministries, development partners, civil society, and women's rights advocates—those who bore witness to the session's deliberations in New York.

Dr Prakash Kanti Chowdhury, Joint Secretary of MoWCA, recounted the rich insights from bilateral talks, including pioneering uses of AI to combat gender-based violence, mentorship initiatives in agriculture, and the advancement of rural daycare systems. He outlined MoWCA's roadmap—anchored in digital inclusion, poverty alleviation, and the relentless pursuit to end violence against women.

Ms Sharmeen S. Murshid, adviser to MoWCA and Ministry of Social Welfare, delivered a stirring challenge: "Many commissions have been formed, yet the call for genuine women's participation in electoral processes remains unmet." She voiced a resolute vision to pursue policy proposals rooted in direct elections for women, reflecting the collective yearning for true representation and accountability.

UN Women's representative Ms Gitanjali Singh reminded all that the journey toward gender equality demands two pillars—financing and data. With an estimated USD 360 billion needed annually to realise empowerment goals by 2030, she emphasised the urgency for sustained, flexible funding and systemic fiscal reforms.

The consultation illuminated pressing priorities: lifting Bangladesh's CEDAW reservations, safeguarding rights for migrant and informal workers, Dalit women, women with disabilities, and gender-diverse populations. Calls resounded for tackling online hate speech, ensuring legal accountability, and fostering structural reforms to dismantle entrenched social norms.

Voices from the margins stirred the gathering deeply. Tamanna Singh Baraik of the Dalit Women Forum spoke poignantly of enduring discrimination faced by Dalit women in Bangladesh and the vital need for their greater presence on international platforms. Rowshan Jahan Moni of ALRD passionately underscored women's land rights, urging immediate governmental action to grant access to khas land—a foundational step towards economic empowerment.

The chairperson of the Women Affairs Reform Commission, also a member of Naripokkho, lamented the reluctance of constitutional reform bodies to engage women meaningfully in legal reforms, highlighting a persistent barrier that must be overcome.

In the twilight of the day's reflections, the call was clear: policy alone is insufficient without heartfelt, effective implementation that reaches the farthest rural and marginalised communities. The participants embraced a shared vision—one that honours the spirit of Beijing+30, weaving together hope, resolve, and collective action to forge a Bangladesh where women's rights are not only promised but profoundly lived.

This consultation stands as a solemn yet inspiring chapter in the continuing story of women's empowerment, a beacon guiding the nation forward in unity and strength.