For development, we have integrated women's education in our state policy. They say, "If you educate a boy, you educate a person, if you educate a girl you educate a family and a whole nation." Therefore, during our first term from 1996-2001, we adopted a National Women's Development Policy revised during this tenure to make it more relevant.
Following the 2008 general elections, women's participation in politics increased with their election to 12,828 reserved seats in local government and 64 members in the parliament. We also have five women cabinet ministers (in charge of Agriculture, Home, foreign Affairs, Women and Children Affairs, and Labor), a female Opposition Leader, the Deputy Leader, a female Whip, and of course, the Prime Minister is a woman.
To demonstrate our strong commitment to conflict resolution, Bangladesh has partnered in many of UN's endeavors for peace, democracy and development. Our contribution to UN peacekeeping has so far been 102, 294 peacekeepers in 52 missions and 36 countries. This included the sad loss of life of 103 brave Bangladeshis. Our involvement also includes UN's first ever all women police unit in Haiti.
We are also pleased with the creation of UN-Women, and we are certain that it will give further impetus to the promotion and empowerment of women and the achievement of their legitimate rights.
From guaranteeing the responsible and transparent exploitation of natural resources through schemes such as the Kimberley Process, to fully implementing the indicators of the landmark Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security.
Warlords who think that they can get away with sexual abuse of women or recruiting child soldiers, should be stopped and held accountable by a united and firmed international community.
Leaders who believe that pointing guns at their own people, that sending death squads on the streets, that stoning women to death is acceptable, lost touch with mankind and are bound to lose all support from their own people and from the world.
