‘Gender equality’ core principle to achieve SDGs

City Desk :
Gender equality is a fundamental prerequisite for building climate resilience and achieving sustainable development, said Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Saber Hossain Chowdhury.

“Our policies and strategies, such as the Mujib Climate Prosperity plan, National Adaptation Plan, and National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan, reflect our determination to confront the climate crisis head-on,” he said, reports media.

The minister made the comments at an event to commemorate International Women’s Day (IWD), a multi-stakeholder consultation on “Gender-Responsive Climate Financing in Bangladesh” in Dhaka on Wednesday.

Focusing on this year’s IWD theme “Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress” the consultation brought together government officials, women’s rights organizations (WROs), non-governmental organizations (NGOs), development partners, and academia to provide policy and budgetary recommendations on integrating gender equality considerations, in the lead up to the upcoming national budget for the fiscal year 2024-25.

“When it comes to budget, we see a lack in statistical and disaggregated data. We have to fill this gap first. This is the first budget of the new government and this year’s budget will set the direction for the forthcoming years. Let us be selective and strategic, in terms of the areas we need to work on. Let us have the building blocks in place, to take this forward in the following financial years,” Saber Hossain Chowdhury said.

Bangladesh is the seventh most climate-vulnerable country with a global record of extreme weather such as sea level rise, worsening storms, floods, and droughts. Climate change exacerbates pre-existing socio-economic vulnerabilities and disproportionately impacts vulnerable groups, particularly women, girls, and people with disabilities.During the consultation, representatives from civil society and women-led organizations underlined the need for their involvement in budget-related discussions.

They called for stronger monitoring of the budgetary expenditure, and its impact. They stressed the importance of effective coordination at all levels, to ensure resources reach those most in need including women with disability, gender-diverse people and women from marginalized groups.