First and foremost, I would like to wish all women Happy International Women’s Day, and express my appreciation to all of you.
The theme for this year is “Accelerate Action”, and this accurately reflects our own aspirations. We must take immediate action to progress, not regress.
Since our nation’s independence, the women of Malaysia have faced many challenges and struggles to achieve equal treatment.
However, gender inequality and unfair treatment still exists in many fields, in the familial institution, our community, and even in our legal system, which continue to hinder the development of women’s rights.
For example, many victims of sexual harassment still continue to remain silent, and are ashamed or afraid to speak up, even to the police, regardless of where they were harassed, be it in the workplace, in their community or even in public.
This situation severely reflects on our country’s weakness to protect women’s rights, even after 30 years since we signed the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW).
Besides that, in cases of marital rape, will we continue to allow the perpetrator to escape the same punishment as faced by other rapist? This, and other issues, need to be addressed immediately.
As such, in conjunction with the 30th anniversary of Malaysia’s signing of CEDAW, Wanita MCA will launch a petition to create awareness on the discrimination and unfair treatment towards women.
At this important moment, we put forward 10 key demands to accelerate gender equality and legal reforms to ensure that Malaysian women are not denied their basic rights:
- End unilateral conversion of children.
- Pass the Anti-Discrimination Against Women Bill.
- Revamp the sex offender’s registry.
- Criminalise marital rape.
- End child marriage.
- Revamp mechanism to enforce Maintenance Orders.
- Increase access to affordable and quality child care.
- Increase political participation of women.
- Pass the Social Work Profession Bill.
- Strengthen laws on gender-based violence.
Wong You Fong is Wanita MCA national chairperson.
- This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of Ova.
