HIS Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam said yesterday he is pleased with the progress in gender equality and women’s empowerment worldwide, including in the Sultanate.
His Majesty said that Brunei Darussalam’s experience on the issue is based on the country’s longstanding policy to provide universal access to education.
His Majesty said that in the 1950s, under the wise and visionary leadership of His Majesty’s late father, Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Mu-hammad Jamalul Alam, education was made free to all children, irrespective of gender.
His Majesty was pleased that last year, the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap report ranked Brunei Darussalam 7th in terms of girls’ enrolment in tertiary education. With the pace of globalisa-tion, His Majesty stated that lifelong learning has been given serious attention.
The monarch made these remarks when delivering a titah at the Global Leaders Summit on Gen-der Equality and Women’s Empowerment held at United Nations headquarters, New York, United States of America.
His Majesty first expressed appreciation to Xi Jinping, President of the People’s Republic of China; and Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General of the United Nations, for the invitation.
His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam delivering his titah. – INFOFOTO
His Majesty said that the chairmen’s opening remarks were inspiring and forward-looking. His Majesty then extended his warmest congratulations to the President of the People’s Republic of China for his initiative to convene the meeting, together with UN-Women.
His Majesty said that the meeting was timely as it coincided with the 70th anniversary of the United Nations and the adoption of the Post-2015 Development Agenda.
His Majesty, in the titah, commended China’s leadership on gender equality and women’s em-powerment.
Even after 20 years, the Beijing Declaration and Platform of Action remained a powerful source of guidance and inspiration, as well as a progressive blueprint for the advancement of women everywhere. His Majesty also commended the contributions of Mexico, Denmark and Kenya to the important issue.
His Majesty was pleased to learn that globally, women’s development has achieved tangible progress.
His Majesty said that in Brunei, girls and women have equal opportunities to upgrade their knowledge and skills, particularly in evolving areas like ICTs. Women have attained high positions in various professional fields such as medicine, legal, education, business and engineering, with progressive education and equal opportunities for employment.
His Majesty added that in the past decade, the participation of women in the workforce had increased from 59 per cent to over 70 per cent. With women making up of almost half of Brunei Darussalam’s population, their contribution to the national development is of great significance.
His Majesty said that women have equal access to health facilities, free for all citizens. Over the past two decades, women’s life expectancy had improved to about 80 years. Women are also increasingly active in business ventures through various credit financing schemes.
His Majesty was also pleased to note that more than half of Brunei Darussalam’s small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are owned by women who have achieved economic self-reliance.
His Majesty also stated that the country is making efforts to protect women’s rights through legislation and plans of action which will be reviewed as and when necessary.
Regionally, as stated by His Majesty, Brunei Darussalam is part of the Asean Commission on the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Women and Children. Asean Declaration on the Elimination of Violence Against Women and Children was also adopted during Brunei Darussalam’s Asean Chairmanship in 2013.
His Majesty further stated that Brunei Darussalam’s continued efforts to fulfil its international responsibilities are shown by its commitment to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women.
His Majesty stated that although Brunei Darussalam has come a long way, there is still much to be done to realise the full potential of women in nation-building. Thus, a balance between the roles of men and women, and their partnership are essential.
In concluding the titah, His Majesty was pleased to reaffirm Brunei’s commitment towards implementing the objectives of the Beijing Declaration and Platform of Action.
Accompanying His Majesty were Pehin Orang Kaya Laila Setia Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Abdul Rahman bin Haji Ibrahim, Minister of Finance II at the Prime Minister’s Office; Pehin Orang Kaya Peker-ma Dewa Dato Seri Setia Lim Jock Seng, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade II; and Dato Paduka Haji Abdul Ghafar bin Haji Ismail, Permanent Representative of Brunei Darussalam to the United Nations.
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