Current Issues Series

Women Today

Agenda 2030 Sustainable Development Goals and Gender (Part 1)

Japan Bashing
and Japan Passing

Mr. Saburo TAKIZAWA

The number of asylum seekers in Japan has been
increasing since 2010 and reached 10,921 in 2016. Yet
only 28 persons were granted refugee status in 2016, a
negligible number compared to other industrializedcountries. Foreign media has long been “bashing”
Japan for not sharing responsibilities to protect
refugees fleeing wars and persecutions. This essay
attempts to provide some insight into the situation.
To start with, why only a few dozens asylum seekers
are granted refugee status? First, Japan is not a
popular country for refugees. Most of refugee-producing
countries are in Africa and Middle East and cost of air
travel to Japan is prohibitively high. Asian refugees are
not coming to Japan either. There were only 150 asylum
seekers from China in 2015 and none was from Russia
or North Korea.
Second, even if an asylum seeker manages to reachJapan, the chance of their getting recognized is slim.
Ministry of Justice demands that all the following
conditions are met before recognizing “persecution” andgranting a refugee status. Namely, persecution exists
when:①Harm is done on account of nationality, religion,
race, political opinion and/or specific social group
Victim is specifically targeted (not generalized②
fighting or indiscriminate bombing)
Persecutor is government agencies (not by③
informal religious or ethnic groups)④Effective domestic protection (such as rule of law)is missing⑤Harm is unbearable and causes grave threat tolife/liberty

Forth, the Japanese public is not receptive to theidea of hosting of refugees. A 2015 Asahi Newspaper
survey posed a question if Japan should accept morerefugees. Only 24% replied affirmatively and 58%
negatively, although most of the Japanese have never
met a refugee. Negative image of refugees has prevailedin Japan since 1980s when over 10,000 Indochinese
refugees were accepted in Japan. For politicians, refugee
issue is risky agenda and only few of them are active inpromoting refugee causes in the Diet.
As a result, refugees avoid coming to Japan and wesee continued “Japan passing”. It is remarkable that outof five million Syrian refugees only 69 sought asylum inJapan and only 7 were recognized. Japan’s RSD,
(Refugee Status Determination) has lost its relevance.
Then why the number of asylum seekers has
increased from some 2000 in 2010 to almost 11,000 in
2016? One can say that majority of them are economic
migrants from Asian countries such as Nepal, Indonesia,
Vietnam and the Philippines who take advantages of
the asylum system in the absence of a legal entry
mechanism for work purposes. In 2010, the Ministry ofJustice introduced a policy of granting work permit to
all asylum seekers after 6 months of asylum application
to ease their economic difficulties. It opened a loopholein the restrictive immigration system for those people
who seek work opportunities in Japan. Big income
disparity between Japan and Asian countries, worsening
labor shortage in Japan and “No immigration” policy
explain the upward asylum trend in Japan.
The small number of recognition and increasing
number of asylum seekers lead to a very low rate ofrecognition (0.2%), deterring “real refugees” to come to
Japan while encouraging economic migrants to come to
Japan as they can keep working as long as they remainin the asylum system. And small-scale companies
employing them are happy as those people do what theJapanese refuse to do. Caught between Japan bashing
and Japan passing, Japan’s asylum is in turmoil.

Few asylum seekers can demonstrate that if he/she
is returned to the home country he/she will face theabove conditions, hence they fail to be recognized as a
refugee.
Third, Japan’s decades-old policy of not accepting
immigrants creates an obstacle to refugee acceptance.
Prime Minister Abe has repeatedly stated that “Japan
will never accept immigration”, meaning that no
foreigners will be granted a permanent resident statuson arrival. Foreigners are supposed to be in Japan for a
specified purpose for a limited period with an intention
to return to their home countries. Therefore there is noneed to establish a national support system such as
language training, children’s schooling and social
welfare system. Without economic and social integration
systems, refugees who will stay in Japan for life facedifficulties. The Ministry of Justice is reluctant to ease
the restrictive asylum policy for fear of creating future
problems.

No.80 July 2017

Pro file

Chairman of the Board,
Japan for UNHCR

Pro file
Born in Nagano Prefecture in 1948. Graduated fromFaculty of Liberal Arts, Saitama University and Graduate
School of Tokyo Metropolitan University. Served at
Ministry of Justice, Haas School of Business, Universityof California, Berkeley and UN Head Quarter in Geneva in
1981. Served at UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine
Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), and UN Industrial
Development Organization (UNIDO). After serving as adirector of finance to UN High Commission for Refugees(UNHCR), the chief of UNHCR Japan Office and aprofessor of Toyo Eiwa University, assigned to the current
post. His specialty is refugee policies in Japan.

1

Obtained master of development study degree from Jones
International University (UNDP Development Academy) in the
U.S. Entered Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1981. After serving
at Japanese Embassy to France, former Zaire, Japanese Mission
to the UN and others, dispatched to UNDP in 2001. Retired
from Foreign Ministry in 2005, served as a senior advisor to
UNDP in charge of coordination and funding of East Timor
humanitarian assistance, Kosovo Deputy Resident Representative,
and Country Director in Chad. Assigned to the current post
since January 2014.

Director of UNDP Representation Office in Tokyo

Mr. Tetsuo KONDO“Now we are able to obtain drinking water nearby
instead of having to carry it back from the water station
several kilometers away”. These were the words of thewomen that accompanied UNDP GWA Ms. Misako
Konno last summer and who pointed out the water
purification equipment after performing theirtraditional dance and singing songs. In this dry area,
Machakos village, the UNDP and a Japanese company
collaborated to set up a simple water supply machine in2013. People now have access to a daily water supply.
Women who used to have to carry the water from far
away now have time to engage in work to obtain cash
income and can send their children to school. Isn’t thiswhat they have always hoped to do?

development of government officials to gender equality.
In more than 170 countries with 129 offices, we havebeen responsible for ensuring basic services.
I myself had been working in the reconstruction ofmany countries victimized in conflict such as Chad,
Kosovo, and East Timor before assuming my current
position. In these countries, I witnessed many people
abused and deprived of human dignity in fear and want.
In such societies, it is the women and children who
suffer most from such trauma. On the other hand, I
learned that facing these problems with integrity cangenerate the momentum for change. For example, when
I was serving in Chad, one of the key reasons for thepoor development was early marriage, which is an
abuse of a woman’s basic human rights. Many girls
were ordered into arranged marriages in their early
teens, meaning that these girls give birth at a very
young age, even though their bodies are not yet mature
enough to handle such conditions. To address thischronic issue, the UN country team including the
UNDP urged the head of the country, President Mr.
Idriss Déby, to ban early marriage for anyone younger
than 18 years of age. The president who initially was
negative to this idea due to the social behavior of thelocal community eventually changed his mind when it
was proven that increased access to education, job
participation and empowerment for women are favorable
indicators to economic development. He finally decided
to enact the early marriage ban in 2015, announcing
such legislation to the parliament himself. I am
convinced that we can change a society, its system, laws
and customs with persistent persuasion.

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that
aim at providing a richer quality of life all over theworld were adopted by the United Nations (UN) General
Assembly in September 2015. The global goals for theyear 2016-2030 consist of 17 goals and 169 targets. The
Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) for the period
2000-2015 included poverty eradication and improved
access to water and sanitation have now beentransformed into SDGs. The new goals contain, in
addition to the items from MDGs, adaptation to climatechange, marine environment conservation andsustainable use of energy. The key feature of the newgoals is that not only are they for developing countries,
but they are also for developed countries to secure theirown future. Increasing natural disasters, destruction of
the ecosystem, the threat of infectious disease acrossborders, increasing inequalities and violent extremism
caused by the poverty and refugee issue - all theseaccrued challenges that the world is facing are mutuallydependent, interwoven and becoming increasingly
difficult to dissolve. The SDGs were formulated toaddress all these issues at a time and its overarching
principle is “to leave no one behind”.

The SDGs can only be achieved when, not only the
UN and governments, but each and every one of us on
the planet are engaged. Global issues such as genderequality require “our own commitment (JIBUNGOTO
in Japanese)”. Let us now consider how we can achievethese 17 goals in our daily life, work and study, and thenact together.

The UNDP has been involved from universal accessto HIV education at the grass roots level to the promotionof democratic governance access to justice and capacity2

No.80 July 2017

World Report Seminar“Women and Disasters”
Date: Saturday, February 25th, 2017, 13:30-16:00
Venue: Large Seminar Room, 5th floor, Kitakyushu Gender Equality Center MOVE
Participants: 107
Keynote Lecture: Ms. Yuki MATSUOKA, Head of UNISDR Office in Japan, United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR)
Panel Discussion: Ms. Yuki MATSUOKA, Ms. Violeta SEVA (Attorney, Advisor to the City of Makati),
Ms. Shizuyo YOSHIMURA (Representative of We-Love-Mashiki Project “Kimamani”),
Ms. Tomiko WATANABE (Director of Ka-tyan No Chikara Project, Fukushima)
Coordinator: Ms. Mitsuko HORIUCHI (President of KFAW)KFAW organized a seminar on disaster risk reduction and aftermath reconstruction from a viewpoint of gender equality and women’s
empowerment. To this end, we invited a disaster risk reduction expert in the UN as well as leading persons in the field of disaster risk
reduction and reconstruction in Japan and overseas.
and inclusive decision making. In this context, women,
people with disabilities and aged people are not recognizedas vulnerable groups but as “agents of change.” It is expectedthat gender equal participation is secured and national/
local governmental organizations promote such movement.
Japan’s disaster experiences are highly reflected in thisFramework adopted at WCDRR that was held in Sendai
City, one of the disaster affected areas, four years after
Great East Japan Earthquake. Japan’s experiences gave
important lessons to the international society.

Keynote Lecture

Sendai Framework and
Gender Perspective
Head of UNISDR Office in Japan, United Nations
Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR)

Ms. Yuki MATSUOKA

It is essential to create a disaster resilient community
for sustainable development and society. It is, hence,
required to ensure five principles; disaster resilience,
economic vitality, environmental quality, social & intergenerational equity and quality of life. A participatory
process in society is critical to ensure the principles, which
includes both women’s and men’s participatory processes
from gender perspective.
In 2015, four years after the Great East Japan
Earthquake, the Third UN World Conference on Disaster
Risk Reduction (WCDRR) was held in Sendai City. In theconference, “inclusiveness” was raised as a keyword inaddition to “disaster resilience.” It was a pioneering
conference for its sensitivity to participation of people withdisabilities. Furthermore, one of the topics of ministerial
high level sessions was “Women’s leadership in disaster risk
reduction.” It suggests that high ranking government
officials were aware of women’s issue.
It is “Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction
2015-2030”, the 15-year-guideline for disaster risk reduction,that was adopted in the conference. While developing the
Framework, they verified how “Hyogo Framework for Action
2005-2015” from the Second Conference had been
implemented. During the verification process, it was notedthat no concrete progress had been made in respective
countries in the field of gender when compared with otherfields although there had been higher awareness to include
gender perspective in disaster risk management.
“Sendai Framework” sets cross-cutting goals for disasterrisk reduction, which involves all relevant government
ministries and agencies with focusing on four priorities foraction. In addition to this, it is stressed that the Framework
implementation requires leadership of women and youth,

No.80 July 2017

Panelist’s Talk 1

Pursuing Resilience
Attorney, Advisor to the City of Makati

Ms. Violeta SEVA

Although Global Gender Gap Index of the Philippines
ranks at the 7th, higher than that of Japan, the 111th, there
still exist many challenges. While global agreements andnational legislation including the Philippine Constitution
acknowledge women’s roles and value, and the country
advocates gender mainstreaming, they are not fully reflectedin policies and plans at local level. This is because genderissues are not well understood, gender mainstreaming is a
new concept for a local government unit, and gender analysis
is not well proceeded.
It is necessary to raise awareness and educate people ongender issues. Capacity building of stakeholders on gendermainstreaming is also essential. It is important to lobby forsupport from international community, private sectors andother various fields.
Women’s great potentials should be positively utilized
and supported in order to enhance resilience of ourcommunity. I believe that we can overcome gender barriersand challenges in the Philippines by joining all of ourefforts.

3

Panelist’s Talk 2

Panelist’s Talk 3

We Are the Main Players

Toward Happy
Reconstruction of
Fukushima– History of “Kimamani,”
Mashiki Chuo Elementary
School Shelter –Director of Ka-tyan No Chikara Project,
Fukushima

Representative, We-Love-Mashiki Project “Kimamani”

Ms. Shizuyo YOSHIMURA

Ms. Tomiko WATANABE

My house was destroyed by Kumamoto Earthquake in
April, 2016 and I evacuated to Mashiki Chuo Elementary
School. The shelter was so disorganized that we, at first,
secured emergency path and exits. One month later when
we procured corrugated paper beds and partition boards, we
set up a community café and a kids’ space. In the daytime,
we opened one curtain after another of the partitions to talkto evacuees so that they did not get isolated. Two months
later, the shelter operation became completely independent
from government control.
The shelter operation manual generally states that roledivisions should be made in the beginning. We, however,wished that the shelter would be a comfortable place where
people communicate well. That is why we did not divide
roles with an idea of “do something within your capacity if
you can.” By doing what we were good at, having been
thankful by the others, and regaining our daily lives, werecovered energy to live.
In August, 2016, fortunately, we were able to collectively
move to temporary houses next to each other as a result of
our request to the government. The activity of “We-LoveMashiki Project Kimamani” was launched by utilizing ourcommunity capacity gained in the shelter in order to rebuild
own houses and build disaster public housing in future.
Unlike a shelter, there are doors in temporary houses, which
are very difficult to open. In order to prevent isolation,
solitary death, and shut-in, we are now searching for a way
to build visible relationship in the temporary houses.

In 2000, when an issue of municipality merger was
raised in Iitate Village, the village chose independence andstarted to deal with growing and processing new varieties ofpotato and pumpkin. The nuclear power accident occurred
when the business finally started to get on track.
Production in Iitate Village became impossible, but I
could not give up our activities, hence, we seeded in thedestination of evacuation in Fukushima City. It was when aprofessor of Fukushima University proposed that Ka-tyans(moms or wives) should do some activity to encourage acommunity through food. I invited every single Ka-tyan tothis activity. The first activity was “Yui-mochi Project” toconnect people and people, community and community,
which put smiles back on Ka-tyans’ faces. Afterwards, we
set up “Ka-tyan no Chikara Project” and opened “Abukuma
Chaya” to market home-made box lunch and pickles. Inlabeling the name of Iitate on the food products, we appliedmuch more stringent inspection standards of radioactive
substances than the national standards at that time.
In March 2017 the evacuation order of Iitate Village will
be relaxed. I will keep on the activities to pass the seeds
down the generations. I may face difficulty while doing
something, but doing nothing bears no fruit and there will
be no growth. If we had stopped seeding “Iitate Yukikko”
with an excuse of nuclear accident, we could have had
nothing today. We move on by learning from Ka-tyans, ourforerunners, with a pride as residents of Iitate Village.

JICA

At Atomic Bomb Dome,
Hiroshima

JICA Training Course on “Gender Mainstreaming
Policies for Government Officers 2016” (the Second)
Kitakyushu Forum on Asian Women (KFAW) conducts atechnical training for central/local government officers incharge of gender mainstreaming in developing countries every
year, commissioned by Japan International Cooperation
Agency, Kyushu International Center (JICA Kyushu).
In fiscal year 2016, the training was held twice, in June
and January. The second one was for nine government officers
from nine countries of Afghanistan, Albania, Cambodia,
Egypt, Fiji, Nigeria, Pakistan, Panama and Papua New
Guinea from Wednesday, January 11th to Friday, February
10th.
Participants are exposed to lectures, workshop sessions,field visits, and presentation sessions of what they achieved
from the training in order to comprehensively learn about
concept, methodology and theories for gender mainstreaming.
On a theme of “Women and Peace” they listened to a female
atomic bomb sufferer’s experience after visiting Atomic Bomb

Dome and Peace Memorial
Museum in Hiroshima. The
Participants stood in frontof Atomic Bomb Dome andfelt horrible power of destruction, and the Museum displays
showed them the fact that people’s ordinary lives had beentaken away instantaneously. Some Participants could not
hold their tears at the sufferer’s sad and vivid story.
One of the Participants said, “I respect the sufferers’
courage to keep on sharing their tragic experiences withothers. I would like to share her story with as many people aspossible in my country. I will never forget what happened in
Hiroshima.”
The program in Hiroshima on “Women and Peace” gave
the Participants an opportunity to think about peace, which
is a foundation to promote gender mainstreaming policies,
across the borders of countries and religions.

4No.80 July 2017

International Understanding Seminar– KFAW Consulate Series Part

Women’s Participation in
American Society

9Date: Wednesday, January 25, 2017 14:00-15:30
Place: Small Seminar Room, 5th Floor, Kitakyushu Municipal Gender Equality
Center MOVE
Instructor: Ms. Vanessa ZENJI (Consul for Public Affairs, U.S. Consulate Fukuoka)
Participants: 70
Why is the question of working women important to the
U.S. and Japan?
By maximizing women’s abilities and participation ineconomic activities, this also brings benefits to the whole
economy. The employment of women as it promotes stability
and prosperity is important for both the U.S. and Japan.
However, in both countries, working women face many
challenges. For example, for the most part working women
also have to do the majority of housework. Finding childcare
facilities is difficult. The cost of these facilities is also high.
In addition, women who perform the same work as men
often earn less. In the U.S., different from Japan, there is no
guaranteed paid leave for childcare.

leadership. She also encouraged women not to shun work
challenges. However, always pushing yourself is not easy.
Thus, for working women, networks and mentorshipprograms are a great plus.
At the Consulate, we are promoting the next generationof women leaders. And, networks between women in
everyday life are also important. Through these networks,
one can get advice from colleagues and exchange ideas not
only to try to solve problems, but also to broaden one’s own
networks. Growing your network is also an important partfor taking one’s own career to the next level and for enrichedrewarding lifestyle. The U.S. Embassy and U.S. Consulate,while introducing case studies in the U.S., hopes toencourage women’s participation in society. We will continue
to support the various mentoring and networking programs.
In the near future, I hope that working men and women will
truly be able to enjoy a fulfilling work-life balance.

In the midst of these challenges, women are also largely
involved in corporate successes. Sheryl Sandberg, Chief
Operating Officer of Facebook, represents one woman withoutstanding influence. In her book – Lean In, she emphasized
the importance of taking risks and seeking opportunities for

28 th KFAW Research Report
Date: March 28, 2017, Tuesday, 13:00-15:00
Topic Reporter:

Role of Women in Peacebuildingin Sri Lanka

I hold an Associate of Science degree in Management and a
Bachelor of Science in International Business Management fromthe United States. I also have a Master in Business Administrationfrom the University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka.
I am the Founder/ Chief Executive Officer of LIV International(Private) Limited in Sri Lanka, which is a company committed toproviding executive education services.
I am reading for my PhD in Management and Economics at
the University of New South Wales in Canberra, Australia.

Ms. Vindhya WEERATUNGA (Sri Lanka)
A woman’s status in Sri Lanka, to a great extent, isinfluenced by patriarchal values of society, in which her
status is dependent on that of her father or husband.
However, lately the role of women has evolved to a state
where spouses are joint decision-makers on household
matters and the welfare of children. Overall, women are
considered the nurturers and disseminators of tradition,
culture, and community values.

In order to have sustainable peace, it is vital that womenare engaged in the process at every level. Women bring a
different perspective to the peace building process as they
have been at the receiving end of the armed conflict as‘victims’. Children raised by mothers who oppose violenceand promote peace and ethnic harmony grow up to be adults
who in turn promote peace. This is the starting point of thechain of peace-building.

Sri Lanka was plagued with a brutal armed conflict for
26-years that ended in 2009. There have also been uprisingsof the anti-state groups during 1987-1989 and communal
riots in 1977 and 1983. When looking back at Sri Lanka’s
history and especially the period when the country was inarmed strife, there was a group of unsung heroes: women.

In the year 2000, the United Nations Security Council(UNSC) formally acknowledged through the creation of
Resolution 1325 the changing nature of warfare, in which
civilians are increasingly targeted and women continue tobe excluded from participation in peace processes. UNSCR
1325 addresses not only the inordinate impact of war on
women, but also the pivotal role women should and do playin conflict management, conflict resolution and sustainable
peace. As women represent over 51% of Sri Lanka’s
population, it is crucial that they actively participate and be
partners in the peace-building process.

During these times of conflicts, women suffered the mostwhile their sons, husbands or brothers were engaged inmilitary activities. Women who were not economically active
became destitute by the loss of their male breadwinners.
These women went through psychological trauma, yet had
to face the challenges and survive, especially for the sake of
their children. They became the mother, the father, thebreadwinner and the protector of the family. These made Sri
Lankan women more resilient. The number of widows,
single mothers and women-headed households increased asa result of the armed conflict. Our experience is that womenand girls have been affected differently vis-à-vis their malecounterparts by the armed conflicts and associated violence.

In Summary, women have multiple roles in the peacebuilding process. First, women must have an equal say inmatters that concern peace and harmony in the country.
Second, as the primary caretakers of families, they are vitalin guiding children from their tender ages to lead peaceful
lives. Third, as advocates of peace, women have first-handexperience of repercussions of the war and can build trustand confidence in future generations. Sri Lanka needs totransform, so that women can participate in and contributesignificantly to the prevention of future conflicts andsustainable peace-building in the country.

Now that the country has a peaceful environment, it isimportant to consider how women can play a significant role
to prevent future conflicts. A peace process involves anumber of steps and is deeply gendered. It is disappointing
to see in many peace processes that it is mostly men who arein the decision-making positions. This is mainly due to thewomen’s status in society in general, and especially in thepolitical arena. Sri Lankan women have a struggle in thepatriarchal culture of the country and a bigger struggle in
the political sphere, where they are hardly represented.

Mitsuko HORIUCHI (KFAW President)
A Brief Review on Gender Equality (Inequality) in Japan, Korea Rep.
and the Philippines, Focusing on a Key Area of Economy

Satoko KANZAKI (KFAW Chief Researcher)
Women’s Activities and Lifestyles in a Java State Village in Indonesia

Participants: 29

women’s group called PKK [Family Welfare Movement] inthe village of Sukaluyu in West Java State in Indonesia.
PKK periodically provides welfare services called
Posyandu (Post Layanan Terpadu) to local citizens. In
those activities, she explained the Posyandu for the elderly
in detail.

While comparing the performance of the three
countries based on the gender gap rankings by the World
Economic Forum, KFAW President Mitsuko HORIUCHI
outlined the causes, some crucial backgrounds and thechallenges in gender equality. The Philippines maintains
their overall Index top ten rankings in the world. Japanand Korea Rep. score at lower rankings.
In addition, KFAW Chief Researcher Satoko
KANZAKI in her report introduced the activities of aNo.80 July 2017

Pro file

KFAW 27th foreign Correspondent Report

URL: http://www.kfaw.or.jp/publication/ajia-josei-kenkyu/

5

Going forward, Sri Lanka needs more women in thepolitical arena. Female representation in Sri Lankan
Parliament is less than 6%, which is below average amongst
other developing countries. The root causes of conflicts areoften political in nature and require a political solution.
Women can be instrumental in bringing about a process ofbuilding sustainable peace in the country, and this can be
accelerated if there were more women in higher-level
decision-making positions in the political sphere.

6No.80 July 2017

Pro file

KFAW 27 foreign Correspondent ReportthBeing the founder of an NPO named ‘Micro
Women’s Empowerment and Gender
Initiatives For Total Advancement (MITA)’, I am
engaged in efforts towards the betterment of
ISSN 0918-8266
children, women, gender equality, and theEquality Are at the Core in Bangladesh
establishment of human rights and peace in

ISSN 0918-8266
ISSN 0918-8266

ISSN 0918-8266

Bangladesh as well as in the world at large.
Professionally, I am a journalist, serving in popular
newspapers and televisions in Bangladesh.

Mr. Bablu RAHMAN (Bangladesh)

Bangladeshi women face barriers and disadvantages inexist for women in terms of career formation in any field
nearly every aspect of their lives, including access to healththey desire. Women’s empowerment through professional
services, economic opportunities, political participation, andattainments is not limited any more.
the control of finances.
Women have ventured into professions held only by men
Empowering women to participate fully in economic lifein the past. Today they excel at any profession, such as
across all sectors is essential to build stronger economies,
scientists and airline pilots. Men’s prejudice has beenachieve internationally agreed goals for development andovercome and women’s self-adjustment to the workplace hassustainability, and improve the quality of life for women,
been facilitated along with the changing social order.
men and their communities.
Today in Bangladesh, Women’s empowerment andThrough global networks, it should be ensured thatgender equality are focused not only as human rights but
women have a real voice in all institutions of governance, so
also as pathway to achieving the Millennium Development
Goals (MDGs) and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
that they can participate equally with men in public dialogue
    Although women’s empowerment has been inspired byand decision-making, and also exert influence on decisionschanging situations, there is a 12% to 16% increase inthat will determine the future of their families andviolence against women in Bangladesh, according to a
countries.
report. Violence against women is not only a gender issue
Women’s empowerment through gender equality matters
but also a disgraceful matter that constitutes human rights
in its own rights, because the ability to live the life of one’s
violation.
own choice and be spared from absolute deprivation is aWith the introduction of modern facilities to the remotest
basic human right to be enjoyed by everyone, whether maleareas, women’s empowerment has been growing with timeor female.
and opportunities provided both by the government and the
In Bangladesh, women’s empowerment is at the core ofprivate sector.
all programs to increase female participation, reduce gender
It is commendable that recognition of women’s
inequality, and raise awareness about the positive impacts
empowerment in Bangladesh has been highlighted
of empowering women and girls throughout society.
internationally, since Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has
To address gender-based violence, development providers
received a gold medal from Dauphine University of France
are working with the government of Bangladesh tofor progress and success in women’s empowerment in
implement the Domestic Violence Prevention and Protection
Bangladesh. The Prime Minister received an MDGs Award
Act of 2010 and train human rights defenders ―half of themfor Bangladesh’s outstanding achievement in the reduction
women― to enforce existing human rights laws, includingof child mortality. She has been awarded the South-Souththe Domestic Violence Act. They also support grassroots
Award under the banner of ICT for the use of informationsocial protection groups made up of social workers, doctors,
technology for the development of health of women andreligious leaders, teachers, and students to monitor domestic
children.
violence in their communities, and help victims’ access toWith the existing female leadership at the highest level
legal channels to settle domestic disputes and seek recourse.
of the country, it is important to reach similar situations at
Bangladesh has experienced a large decrease in excess
all levels. Thus project/programme plans should always
girl mortality during the past two decades by improving
have sufficient budget allocated for gender mainstreaming.
access to clean water, sanitation and waste disposal services,and thereby reducing diarrhea and other infectious diseases.
Reduction in maternal mortality was also achieved throughimproved maternal health care.
Credit programmes for poverty reduction have beensuccessful, making rural destitute women self-reliant
through credits provided for self-employment, in 473
upazillas (equivalent to counties) of 64 districts. Throughthe spread of cell phones and the Internet, more women haveFree bicycle distribution for school Girls are cheerful and flying withgained access to information. Microcredit has helped
girls by the local government’s rejoice at the results of secondary
women’s economic attainment, bringing financial stability
school certificate exmamination.
women
KITAKYUSHU empowering
OTEMACHI BUILDING
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OTEMACHI 11-4, KOKURAKITA, KITAKYUSHU, 803-0814 JAPAN
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The Kitakyushu Forum on Asian Women (KFAW) was established in October of 1990 with a special.)$:fund for revitalization
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7

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