New York, Mar 21 (V7N) – Sharmeen S. Murshid, Advisor to the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs, has urged the international community to strengthen global partnerships, increase investments, and adopt new commitments to accelerate the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. She emphasized the need to ensure that no woman or girl is left behind in the journey towards gender equality.

She made this statement while representing Bangladesh at the 69th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW69) in New York on Thursday (March 20), local time. Abul Kalam Azad Majumder, Deputy Press Secretary of the Chief Advisor, provided this information.

Murshid highlighted that women have historically played a crucial role in the struggles for freedom, democracy, and social justice in Bangladesh. She noted that women made up 65 percent of the total revolutionaries during the mass uprising of July 2024, demonstrating their leadership in the movement for change.

She also stated that after the fall of Sheikh Hasina's fascist government, the interim government took charge to restore democracy, bringing radical changes to the gender structure of Bangladesh.

Sharmeen S. Murshid reiterated that the interim government is committed to the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and has launched a transformative reform program to eliminate gender discrimination. As part of this initiative, Bangladesh has established the country’s first-ever ‘Women’s Affairs Reform Commission’, which focuses on eliminating violence as a fundamental step toward women’s empowerment.

Additionally, a ‘Quick Response Team’ has been introduced to assist women victims of violence within 24 hours, ensuring immediate support and justice.

She also highlighted Bangladesh’s decision to withdraw reservations from Articles 13(a), 16.1(c), and 16.1(f) of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Women (CEDAW), signaling the country's strong commitment to gender equality.

As part of the CSW69 session, Murshid participated in the Ministerial Roundtable on ‘National Frameworks for the Empowerment of Women and Girls and Gender Equality’, where she shared Bangladesh’s experiences and best practices in implementing the Beijing Platform for Action under the leadership of Principal Advisor Dr. Muhammad Yunus.

On the sidelines of the event, she held bilateral meetings with ministers from China, Sweden, Mexico, and Finland, discussing key issues such as women’s development, gender equality, violence prevention, and the expansion of Bangladesh’s ‘care economy’ through social business initiatives.

Sharmeen S. Murshid is set to deliver the keynote speech at a high-level side event titled ‘Investing in the Care Sector: A Pathway to Economic Growth and Gender Equality’, jointly organized by Bangladesh, Nepal, and Finland.

The event will feature prominent participants, including:

  • Ministers from Nepal
  • Senior government representatives from Bangladesh, Nepal, and Finland
  • Representatives from UN Women, ILO, ADB, World Bank, civil society, and international organizations

Additionally, she is scheduled to hold bilateral meetings with officials from Turkey and Tunisia to discuss further cooperation on women’s empowerment and economic inclusion initiatives.

Murshid is currently on an official visit to New York and Washington, DC from March 10 to 21, where she is engaging with the World Bank and other international organizations on issues related to gender equality, women’s empowerment, investment in social services, and strategic partnerships for economic inclusion.

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