A day-long national conference on 'Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR)' was held on Tuesday, at the Nabab Nawab Ali Chowdhury Senate auditorium of Dhaka University (DU).
Raising awareness about sexual and reproductive rights in the workplace; the second national conference was aimed at increasing cooperation among different divisions in workplaces, particularly in the Ready-made garment (RMG) sector.
Addressing the conference as chief guest, Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs, Meher Afroz Chumki, said: "Sexual and reproductive health and rights issues are neglected in Bangladesh. Therefore, we have to change our attitude to emphasize the importance of health rights in workplaces."
"We have to undertake serious measures in favor of the reproductive health and rights of female RMG workers. We have to ensure safer reproductive health system be put in place which will lead to achieving the targets of SDGs. Our government has been working on this."
Creating enabling environments to empower people to realize their sexual and reproductive health and their human rights is an emerging field.
Population Sciences department of DU and the SNV Netherlands Development Organization jointly organized the conference with financial support from the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
DU Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr M Akhtaruzzaman inaugurated the conference.
Rights activists, researchers, NGOs and development partners attended the program to discuss problems and solutions on reproductive health issues. There were 18 papers submitted at the conference.
Harry Verweij, ambassador to the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Bangladesh said: "Reproductive health and health related initiatives are still in the preliminary stage. If Bangladeshi industries take steps to develop the working environment as reproductive health friendly, the workers can contribute more."
During his inaugural speech, Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr M Akhtaruzzaman, emphasized on the need to raise awareness among people in this regard.
Population Science department Chairman Prof Dr Mohammad Mainul Islam presided over the inaugural session.
SNV Netherlands Development Organization Country Director Jason Belanger and International Labor Organization (ILO) Country Director Toumo Poutianen addressed the conference.
Prof Dr Halida Hanum Akhter of John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, USA presented key-note address. Prof Dr Mohammad Bellal Hossain delivered welcome address.
