| U.S. Ambassador-at-large for Global Women's Issues Melanne Verveer recently visited Dhaka, Bangladesh, where she met with government and civil society leaders about advancing the rights and well-being of women and girls. During her stay, Ambassador Verveer addressed such issues as child marriage, maternal and child health, women's political and economic participation, and gender-based violence. She also observed how Bangladesh continues to be a strong center of social entrepreneurship, which helps women become agents of change. 'On my visit to a Grameen village, I was reminded once again of the extraordinary transformative power of investing in women through microfinance,' said Verveer. 'All the women who had received loans showed that when women have access to resources, they can truly transform their lives and the lives of their families and communities.' Bangladesh is perhaps unique in the developing world as a country where women hold many of the leading positions in government. Moreover, the country has succeeded in bringing down child and maternal mortality over the past two decades. The government moved in May 2011 to make inheritance laws more equitable to female beneficiaries, as part of the country's Women's Development Policy. |
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