DHAKA, March 21, 2018 (BSS) – Bangladesh has called upon the international community to step forward and share burden of the adverse impacts of climate change.
“They should be taking greater responsibilities arising out of the adverse impacts of climate change particularly when rural women and girls are at stake more than other groups of population,” said State Minister for Women and Children Affairs Meher Afroze on Tuesday.
She was addressing an event hosted by Bangladesh on “Shouldering the Burden: Rural Women and Climate-Induced Displacement” at UN Headquarters in New York, USA on the side-lines of the ongoing 62nd Commission on the Status of Women (CSW).
The event was also co-sponsored by ‘NGO Committee on Migration’, according to a message received here today.
As a panelist of the event, the state minister described about the adverse impacts and vulnerability of climate change in Bangladesh.
She also shared the government’s strong commitment, initiatives and preparedness to face the threats of climatic challenges.
In this context, she mentioned that Bangladesh government has been implementing various projects like ‘Ashrayan’ and ‘One Home One Farm’ to support the people who lost their homes due to adverse climatic conditions.
She added that awareness-raising and training programmes were being conducted to cope with the post-disaster situation and facilitate the people’s return to livelihood.
“To provide safe drinking water and sanitation in cyclone prone areas, my ministry have been implementing projects for women and children under Social Protection programme”, she said.
Referring to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s proactive role to face the climate change vulnerabilities, Meher Afroj said, “Under the visionary leadership of Sheikh Hasina the government of Bangladesh has been trying to update relevant legislations and formulate new ones to mitigate the climate change vulnerability”.
The state minister recognized the support of development partners, NGOs and private sector in this regard.
She called upon the international community to extend their support to build capacity for the developing countries like Bangladesh in line of adaption, mitigation and preparedness against the adverse effects of climate change.
Referring to her recent visit in Rohingya camps in Bangladesh, UN Under- Secretary-General and Executive Director of UN Women Ms Phumzile Mlambo- Ngcuka lauded Bangladesh government for its generosity in hosting Rohingyas and for providing them with humanitarian support.
She particularly praised the women of the host community in Cox’s Bazar for their resilience.
All the panelists highly praised the significant socio-economic developments of Bangladesh, particularly in women’s empowerment.
They said that the resilience of the women of Bangladesh in fighting against disaster and climate change vulnerability was really praiseworthy.
Secretary of the Ministry of Women and Children’s Affairs of Bangladesh Ms Nasima Begum, Director of Food and Agriculture Organization Liaison Office to the UN in New York Ms Carla Mucavi, Co-founder of ‘Open the Door’ Ms Molly Gerke and Thematic Specialist from International Organization for Migration Ms Mariam Traore Chazalnoel also attended the event as panelists.
Ms Teresa Blumenstein from UNANIMA International and NGO Committee on Migration moderated the event.
The delegation of Bangladesh for the 62nd CSW including Kazi Rosy, MP, were present in the event.
The panel was also attended by a large number of delegations from member states, UN officials and Civil Society representatives, the message added.