UNDP holds conference to help Bangladesh achieve SDG-16
| The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) has organized a day-long conference titled “In-Gov” in Bangladesh capital Dhaka with a view to supporting the the Bangladeshi government’s efforts in achieving Sustainable Development Goal (SDG)-16, reports Xinhua. The SDG-16 is dedicated to the promotion of peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, the provision of access to justice for all, and building effective, accountable institutions at all levels. According to a statement received here Tuesday, the conference held Monday focused on governance for a peaceful, just and inclusive society. During a panel discussion on promoting participatory governance, Shoko Ishikawa, country representative of UN Women in Bangladesh, said “Social barriers are a fundamental issue.” “We must promote accountability and get out of this culture of impunity. We want women and the youth to thrive, but we must create a conducive environment for them.” Selima Ahmed, president of Bangladesh Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said, “We identified three major challenges to women’s participation in business – access to finance, capacity, and social barriers. We realized the ultimate challenge were social barriers.” “To overcome such challenges, merely inclusion is not enough. There must be integration and collaboration to ensure sustainable development,” she added. Panelists at a session titled “Building future for and by the youth,” stressed on the need for effective collaboration between stakeholders and youth organizations to reach the common goal of youth leadership and empowerment. Enditem |