WUNRN
March 8, 2011
All
Women's Action Society (Awam) welcomes the commemoration of 100 years of
International Women's Day (IWD). We recall the origins of IWD which began with
women workers organising to improve exploitative working conditions in garment
factories in America at the turn of the 20th Century. Later across the world,
women celebrated IWD by protesting against poverty, war, racism and all forms of
oppression and inequalities.
In Malaysia, it is only after two decades that now parties such as government
agencies and multi-national corporations hold activities such as talks,
exhibitions and tea parties in celebration of IWD with wide coverage in the media.
Our achievements in education and health and some women in leadership positions
will be shown as examples of how well Malaysia has advanced the rights of
women.
However, we are still a long way from achieving equality. Moreover, whatever
gains women have won over the last few decades are under threat from economic,
social and political disparities we face in our country.
In a small attempt to remind us how far we have yet to go, Awam believes that
following gaps need to be addressed in order to achieve equality:
- A minimum wage for workers which provides for some
relief in the onslaught of the rising cost of living, and affordable,
regulated and quality child care facilities for families and other
policies and services that will improve women's poor labour force
participation.
- The enactment of long-delayed laws such as the Sexual
Harassment Act, 30 percent women in decision-making policy, amendments to
the Domestic Violence Act, Islamic Family Law, etc. and better
implementation of existing policies and mechanisms for delivery of
equality.
- Better enforcement, legal redress, health services and
public education against the crisis of rape and other forms of sexual
violence.
- Eradication of polarising provision of social services
and social policies along racial/religious lines, such as Muslim-only
women's shelters, and uneven urban/rural development benefits that have
seen states such as Sabah and Sarawak languish in poverty.
- The lack of recognition of the rights of marginalised
groups such as refugees, migrant domestic workers, asylum-seekers,
transgendered, etc, that result in continued vulnerability to violence and
discrimination among these communities.
- The lack of respect for women's choices and control
over their sexuality, and the promotion of traditional, stereotypical
roles for women especially within marriage and family using the excuse of
religion and culture. These entrench discrimination and violence at the
most personal and private levels for women who suffer the consequences
daily.
- The lack of safety in urban public spaces and the
impunity of rampant crime which results in many Malaysians living in fear
and reflects deteriorating social conditions
These are just a few of the many concerns that exist along
the long road to achieving equality in Malaysia. The popular uprisings sweeping
across the Arab world can serve as an inspiration for all of us that our
struggle for equality, justice and freedom may soon bear fruit.