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 trotted out 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
Happy International Women’s Day!
