Abridged Version of Foreign Minister’s Speech in Geneva
Geneva, 01 Mar 2010
Dr. Dipu Moni delivered her speech at the High level segment of the Human Right Council, Geneva, and 01 March 2010. She mentioned that Bangladesh has targeted to become a middle-income country by 2021, the year of its 50th anniversary of independence. Dr. Dipu Moni said, Vision 2021 of the Government aims to build a society free from exploitation, where human rights and fundamental freedoms are protected, and justice and equality are secured.
She said Bangladesh is making efforts to build a society where all can fully enjoy human rights—civil and political, social, economic and cultural as well as right to development. It is also true that eradication of poverty and attainment of universal education as well as full empowerment of women can bring fundamental changes in the enjoyment of human rights by all. Eradication of poverty, therefore, is at the top of our development agenda. It is no wonder that more than half of our budgetary resources are allocated for programmes designed to eradicate poverty. Bangladesh now focuses more on empowering the poor, especially the vulnerable segments of the society, including women, children and the elderly. A range of social safety net programmes have been put in place to address the multi-dimensional challenges faced by the poor and the vulnerable.
Dr. Dipu Moni mentioned that education, particularly for girls, is a priority of the government. Primary education has been made free with free books, and compulsory, for all children; provision has been made for free education for girls up to class 12; and, stipend for girls in rural secondary schools. Bangladesh has been successful in achieving gender parity in net enrolment in primary and secondary schools—a key Millennium Development Goal. The government has a plan to provide free tuition for girls up to under-graduate level. Bangladeshis are now represented in all segments of national activity—in politics, in business, in the civil services, in the police and the military. Affirmative actions are being taken to further mainstream women in national development efforts, including through literacy programmes, increased representation in the workforce, economic emancipation, and political representation. Stringent laws and practical measures have been put in place to address violence against women. Just last week, the Cabinet approved a law on the prevention of domestic violence and sent it to the parliament for its consideration and adoption. Preventing the abuse of children, trafficking and hazardous child labour are priorities of our government.
Dr. Dipu Moni mentioned that provision of basic healthcare is a fundamental right. This is an area where the government is keen to make progress. Provision of quality pre-natal and post-natal services has resulted in significant decline in infant and maternal mortality rates. The government has undertaken a programme to establish one community healthcare centre for every 6,000 people across the country. Dr. Dipu Moni said that Bangladesh high importance to guaranteeing food security for its people as an essential precondition for ensuring their socio-economic development. We have also adopted a National Food Policy to ensure sustained food security for all, in particular women, children and the elderly. Our efforts toward ensuring food security, however, are challenged by the unabated climate change. Unpredictability in weather, and erratic pattern of natural disasters which are hitting Bangladesh with increased frequency and ferocity, have compromised our effort to ensure sustained agricultural and livestock production. We are also concerned by the growing incidence of climate change induced internal displacement of people and the consequence of lose of livelihood to climate change. Dr. Dipu Moni said, the government has further strengthened the reconstituted National Human Rights Commission of Bangladesh. The Anti-Corruption Commission and the Election Commission are also working independently. We are vigilant against application of all extra-judicial methods, including extra-judicial killing. Our Prime Minister has declared ‘zero tolerance’ for such practices. The government is determined to bring to justice anybody who is involved in any extra-judicial methods.
We all belong to a global village where we must live and work together. Our lives and our worlds are intertwined. Let us adopt a common resolve in facing today's challenges. Let us share each other's responsibility, burden and prosperity. Let us strive to leave a more harmonious world for our children and our grandchildren by reaching out to one another.
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Abridged Version of Foreign Minister’s Speech in Geneva (1 March 2010)