Today 14 October, Observing the international rural women day, the CSO leaders have urged to the government in a national seminar to ensure due share of women in climate finance addressing the climate change adaptation plan and its implementation process. They also said that, due to changing impact of climate, our country and our women are treated as most vulnerable, but government effort is being seen as very less to adapt and survive our women with this impact. The CSO also critics that the government has taken total 116 project under Bangladesh Climate Change Trust Fund (BCCTF) and Bangladesh Climate Change Resilient Fund (BCCRF) where only one project got financial allocation from these funds which is gender related.
The seminar has organized at national press club under the banner of International Rural Women Day (IRWD) national celebration committee and moderated by Sawpan Guha-President of the committee and inaugural speech deliberated by Md Mostafa kamal Akand-Secretary of IRWD. Md Hasan Mehedi-Humanity Watch has presented the key note on the issue and spoken by Professor Salma Kahn-Former ambassador Indonesia and chair of CEDAW committee, professor Nazma Siddique- Jahangir Nagar University, Mrs Tasmin Rana- Former MP and Mahmuda Doli-Journalist and with different level of stakeholder at the seminar.
Presenting the key note, Hasan Mehedi mentioned that, Bangladesh is treated as most vulnerable country across the globe considering climate change, which impact on food security, water crisis and also inundate the huge coastal areas those will ultimately affect our women at the first stage. Our government has acknowledged this situation of vulnerability of women in BCCSAP (Bangladesh Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan) but measures is ignored coming into the reality of this acknowledgement. He demanded clear definition of women vulnerability in BCCSAP and setting gender sensitive indicators that will ensure women share and participation in climate change action and implementation.
Professor Salma khan said that, according to CEDAW (Convention of Eliminating of all Discrimination Against Women) charter, our government is responsible and liable to eliminate all discrimination against women through constitutional and development effort and report to the UN periodically, but measures is lees comparing commitment. So she urged to government to identify the problem of rural women those really exist and taking appropriate actions based on the commitment.
Mrs Tasmin Rana said that, in order to empowering our women required to demolish the existing political and social structure that is built based on former colonial and male dominated mind-set. Our women is most vulnerable in both socio-economic and climatic impact which correctly be addressed through constitutional guideline and policy.
Professor Nazma Siddique said that, more than 70% of global poor are women and they are playing vital role for human survival and socio-economic development. Without looking these women, desired development wouldn’t be possible. So government must take necessary measures to develop and empowering women and ensure their rights accessing the resources.
Among the other participants Mr Badrul Alam- Bangaldesh Krishak Federation, Jayanta-Surakhha Foundation, Aminu Rasul Babul-Unnayan Dhara, and Prodip Kumar Roy has also spoke at the seminar.
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