MDG Report 2012 - United Nations in Bangladesh

needs to be promoted. The National Policy for Women‟s Advancement 2011 needs tobe implemented as well.Many of the harmful practices in Bangladesh like child marriage, dowry, and weaklegal and social protection in the event of divorce and abandonment, and gender basedviolence are largely due to cultural practices that favour boys over girls. They aredeep rooted in the traditional patriarchial society of Bangladesh, which must bechanged to make gender sensitive policies and legal frameworks effective.To address the barriers for girls to access tertiary education, interventions such asfinancial support for the poor girls, quality improvement of education, development ofgender balanced curricula, and promotion of girl-friendly schools could beimplemented. Similarly, for women‟s increased economic participation, small scaleentrepreneurship with incentives and access to market and finance for women,workforce safety measures, child care support, vocational and technical educationwhile reducing their vulnerability to violence and trafficking could be implemented.In order to provide immediate relief, rehabilitation, and protection of the survivors ofdiscrimination, violence, and trafficking, or those vulnerable to such events, acomprehensive package including medical, psycho-social and legal services as well asshelter and livelihood support needs to be introduced.Given the fact that women in Bangladesh mostly belong to informal workforce, socialprotection and safety net programmes will have to be made more gender sensitive byaccounting for gender differences in labour market participation, access toinformation and unpaid care responsibilities.The Ministry of Women and Children Affairs (MOWCA) is in the forefront ofpromotion of gender equity and equality in the country. The MOWCA has focalpoints which encourage all sectoral ministries to have gender screening of theirpolicies and to implement gender sensitive and/or gender focused programmes. Thecapacity of MOWCA and other concerned ministries needs to be enhanced to enablethem to formulate and implement gender sensitive policies and programmes.Capacity building for system strengthening, conducting quality studies and surveysand promoting effective use of information needs to be undertaken on an urgent basis.Eradication of poverty with special emphasis on eradication of feminization ofpoverty by strengthening the social safety net programmes and other measures is animportant agenda of the government. Programmes such as Allowance to Widows andDestitute Women, Maternity Allowance to poor mothers, and Vulnerable GroupDevelopment Programme have been providing food security to a large number ofpoor women. Extensive training programmes in income generating skills in sectorssuch as crop agriculture, fisheries and livestock, computer, sewing, handicrafts etc.are being conducted. Also necessary support is being given to women entrepreneursengaged in small and medium enterprises (SMEs).53