PM gets global leadership awards
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina called for mobilizing a new global alliance to promote women rights and empowerment as she was conferred with Global Womens Leadership Award for her outstanding contribution to their cause, reports BSS from Sydney. We have to forge a new alliance to support the women and uphold their rights. Together, we must act on our shared culture, tradition and values to benefit millions of women in need, she said while receiving the award at a Gala Dinner of the Global Summit of Women 2018.
Sheikh Hasina received the prestigious accolade from Global Summit of Women President Irene Natividad amid thunderous clapping of nearly 1500 women leaders from across the globe who joined the summit. The women leaders gave a standing ovation to the Bangladesh prime minister for several minutes on the occasion. The US-based Global Summit of Women conferred the award on Sheikh Hasina for her leadership in womens education and entrepreneurship in Bangladesh.
A video documentary on the political life of Sheikh Hasina, Bangladeshs economic progress and different steps taken by her government for women empowerment was screened earlier. Prime Ministers younger sister Sheikh Rehana and Foreign Minister AH Mahmood
Ali, among others, were present on the occasion. Sheikh Hasina said: I am highly glad and deeply honored to receive the Global Women Leadership Award 2018 and she dedicated it to the women across the world, who have shown their might in changing their lots. It is a great pleasure for me to see the women change-makers, the premier said and extended sincere thanks to the Global Summit of Women for nominating her for the prestigious accolade and organizing this gala event.
She urged all to work together to overcome traditional gender stereotypes regarding womens ability and reach out marginal and vulnerable women who were still less fed, not schooled, under-paid and violated. The premier particularly stressed creating equal opportunities for women in all sectors of life and livelihoods and said no woman and girl should be left behind. She also called for womens enhanced productivity by addressing health hazards specific to women.
Global Summit of Women President Irene Natividad presided over the function held at International Convention Centre (ICC) here. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has received two international awards - the IPS International Achievement Award and the 2018 Special Distinction Award for Leadership - for her humanitarian and responsible policy in hosting the Rohingyas and for her farsighted leadership over the Rohingya issue respectively.
The Inter Press Service (IPS), one of the worlds leading news agencies, and the Global Hope Coalition, a network of three not-for-profit foundations based in New York, Zurich and Hong Kong honoured her with the two awards on Thursday. Sheikh Hasina received the awards at two functions here. Director General of International Organization for Migration Ambassador William Lacy Swing handed over to Sheikh Hasina the IPS International Achievement Award at a function held at the United Nations Headquarters.
Under-Secretary-General of the UN Office of the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Mark Lowcock, Canadian Minister for International Development Marie-Claude Bibeau spoke at the function. Director-General of IPS International Farhana Haque Rahman delivered the welcome address.
At a separate function at Park Avenue in New York, Honorary President of Global Hope Coalition Irina Bokova conferred the 2018 Special Distinction Award for Leadership. The three other world leaders who also received the awards are President of Niger Mahamadou Issoufu, President of Tunisia Beji Caid Essebsi and Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras.
