“Women in leadership: Achieving an equal future in a COVID-19 world.” A Report On International Women’s Day, 2021, Celebration National Girl Child Advocacy Forum (NGCAF) Background: To uphold women’s rights and to ensure their empowerment, International Women’s Day has been being celebrated since 1910. In the mean time, significant development of women has taken place; but at the same time they are facing a lot of problems. There still presence gender discrimination and violence. Real women empowerment is not taking place in Bangladesh due to male dominated society and space for equity. Women participation in social sector, especially in political and economical sectors, is still low. Due to absence of social justice, women are being victims of child marriage, rape and sexual harassment etc. According to the findings from 2019 Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) child marriage still remains widely accepted by 51.4 per cent of women aged 20-24 years who married first before their 18th birthday. Also15.5 per cent of women first married before their 15th birthday. The high rate of child marriage continues to cast a negative spell on the educational and physical wellbeing of girl children in Bangladesh. Government of the Bangladesh is also giving emphasis on women empowerment. In this concern national women development policy-2011 and prevention of women and child repression Act-2003 (Amendment-2020) including gender friendly laws and orders have been formulated in the last recent years. Despite taking these initiatives, women have to fight for their rights still. In order to achieve SDGs, gender equity and women participation in decision making process is must. In this regards, three foremost conditions are: constant and continuous political commitment; invest in girls and women; and strong accountability system. There is need for encouraging women to ensure their contribution in their respective areas in order to ensure their rights and gender equity; because women empowerment is essential to ensure development of humanity i.e. development of democracy, good governance and sustainable development. We should realize that as nation we will advance towards prosperity, if women empowerment in society, politics and economic sectors is ensured. Based on this thought, every year NGCAF celebrates International Women's Day across the country with the series of events. The member/associate member organizations of the NGCAF are closely join with it. In this year the UN theme is - “Women in leadership: Achieving an equal future in a COVID-19 world.” In Bangla “ কেরানাকােল নারী নতৃ a , গড়েব নতু ন সমতার িব) ”. Keeping this theme in mind National Girl Child Advocacy Forum (NGCAF) observed International Women’s Day from 8th March to 14th March, 2021 at National to Union level. Due to the global COVID epidemic, this year's IWD was celebrated through Online based Discussion Meeting & Award Giving Ceremony at the National Level and 109 events on harmful side of Child Marriage at the Union to Upazila levels with UP bodies, Govt Officials, Parents and Different Stakeholders. An Online Discussion Meeting & Award Giving Ceremony was held on 14th March 2021 at 11:00 am at the National level. Ms. Nasima Begum ndc- Hon’ble Chairman of National Human Rights Commission was present as the Chief Guest. Dr. Shamil Uddin Shimul MP and Ms. Adiba Anjum Mita MP- hon’ble Member of Parliamentary Caucus on Child Rights were the Special Guests of the session. Also present were Ms. Bithika Hasan- Gender Expert of UNDP, Prof. Hosne ara Begum- Executive Director of TMSS. Ms Wahida Banu-Executive Member of NGCAF & Executive Director of Aparajeyo Bangladesh, Ms. Nasima Akhter Jolly- Secretary of NGCAF & Director of The Hunger Project, Ms. Rabeya Begum- Joint secretary of NGCAF and Executive Director of Shariyotpur Development Society & 04 Women leaders, who has changed their situations themselves. At the same time, they continued to work independently to reduce the violence and ongoing discrimination against women. 02 award winners Freedom Fighter Ms. Kanon Gomez & young journalist Ms. Rabeya Akter Shuborna from ATN Bangla also there were. Dr. Badiul Alam Majumdar- President of NGCAF and Global Vice President & Country Director of The Hunger Project was Presided over the Discussion Meeting. The discussion session was started with an introductory theme song “Alo Asbei” produced by 05 Young Women. Ms. Rabeya Begum -Joint Secretary of NGCAF has given her introductory speech of the session. [ Chief Guest of the discussion session Ms. Nasima Begum, ndc said, “Bangladesh is developing day by day and women are also partnering of this development”. She also mentioned, “Half of the population is women and among them half are girl children. So, girl children are our assets.” Addressing the parents, honorable Chairman, NHRC urged to dream about your girl children. They will definitely fulfill your dreams”. She gave a brief description of the steps that are being implemented by the government in the welfare of women and girls. She said, "The rate of child marriage is much lower now than the past. This has been possible because, apart from the government, several non-government organizations are also working to stop child marriage. Besides, our girl children are now more aware than ever.” She concluded her speech with the expectation to stop child marriage and said, “We don’t want to see an under-aged child to get married and carry another child at a very early age.” Special Guest Dr. Shamil Uddin Shimul MP said, "Child marriage has become a big problem for us during the Corona period." But the rate of child marriage has come down as a result of various women working against child marriage in different areas including Union Parishad and District Parishad. From this it is understood that women leadership has played a very good role during the COVID period.” Another Special Guest Ms. Adiba Anjum Mita MP said, “Still we are not able to come out of some long running rules in many cases. Women need to come forward to help each other.” Guest Ms. Bithika Hasan said, this year's Women's Day is a special for two reasons. Celebrating the golden jubilee of independence is another COVID situation. We hope that this Women's Day will bring something special for us at such a time. Every human being is born with infinite possibilities. If we can give them a conducive environment, human potential can be developed. Another issue is that it will not be possible to bring about qualitative change if boys cannot be associated with it. Prof. Hosne Ara Begum said, “I would also like to thank all the men, who have helped women move forward. Many women are moving forward as a result of extending their hand of cooperation towards women. Ms. Wahida Banu said that we have to focus on the process of socialization of human growth. At the same time, we need to change our attitude. We have to create employment for women. Ms. Nasima Akhter Jolly - secretary of NGCAF said in her speech, “If we want to change the life of women, then the life of girl children needs to be changed. This is because the journey of a woman's life begins when she is a child. Therefore, girl children’s education, health and nutritional rights must be ensured and the existing patriarchal attitude should be eliminated.” Dr. Badiul Alam Majumdar gave concluding speech with thanks to all audience, member/associate member organization for their continuous support to successfully completed the events. Freedom Fighter Ms. Kanan Gomez (72) and young journalist Ms. Rabeya Akter Shuborna from ATN Bangla - were honored for excellent contribution in their own sectors. Honored money and crests supported by Care Bangladesh. After the memento was given, in her speech, Kanan Gomez put light on how important of liberation, freedom fighters, struggle of women during this period. She expressed her experience about the physical and mental torture done by Pakistan’s shoulders. On the other hand, Ms. Rabeya Akhter emphasized on the necessity of education in a woman’s life and set example of her own life. In this event, a colorful poster on International Women’s Day – 2021 and a special publication titled “Narir Kotha -16” were inaugurated. It was the success story of 26 women leaders from the grass-root level who, in spite of facing hundreds of adversities, had changed their destiny themselves and became partners in development. They were part of the “Unleashed Women's Network” program of the Hunger Project and the NGCAF’s member organizations Dalit & BScan. Those women leaders, who has changed their situations themselves. At the same time, they continued to work independently to reduce the violence and ongoing discrimination against women. The stories published in “Narir Kotha -16” were a proof of their efforts and success. 6,000 pieces Colorful posters were jointly printed with BRAC, Good Neighbors Bangladesh, The Hunger Project Bangladesh, Educo Bangladesh, Shariyotpur Development Society, Concern Worldwide and National Girl Child Advocacy Forum. Those Posters were distributed in more than 185 unions in our country. People were getting necessary messages through this visual content in especially Rural areas. 700 pieces of “Narir Kotha -16” journal were jointly printed with National Girl Child Advocacy Forum, BRAC and The Hunger Project Bangladesh. The online discussion was moderated by Ms. Mausumi Sharmin from Concern Worldwide and Ms. Farzana Bari from Room to Read Bangladesh. Members/Partners Support and Our Gratitude: All praises are due to Almighty, the Supreme Ruler of the universe, who enabled us to celebrate International Women’s Day 2021 successfully. Guidance, help and co-operation have been received from several likeminded organizations, Member organizations and Personal level to observe the day.