Organisers of the 2015 Multi-Stakeholder Meeting on Domestic Violence are optimistic about the outcome of the consultation, which aims to engage government in a dialogue about their roles and responsibilities as domestic violence responders, and to enhance services provided to domestic violence survivors.

The Garis Panduan Pengendalian Kes Keganasan Rumah Tangga was launched by the Women, Family, and Community Development Ministry on Oct 1 this year, with the goal of informing nine technical agencies classified as domestic violence responders on their roles and responsibilities.

The 2015 Multi-Stakeholder Meeting on Domestic Violence is a consultation aimed at strengthening the cooperation and understanding between the different stakeholders that are mandated in the Garis Panduan as domestic violence responders, so as to optimise services provided to domestic violence survivors.

“Victim-survivors of domestic violence already face stigma and complex barriers in seeking redress. From the WAO clients that we surveyed, we found that 61.8 percent of victim-survivors sought help from the police before anyone else.”

“Victim-survivors must have an enabling environment that ensures necessary redress, and for those who have made the step to report the violence, the system must not let them down,” said Sumitra Visvanathan, executive director of Women’s Aid Organisation (WAO).

WAO, which organised the meeting with the ministry, hopes to engage government in a dialogue around the crises and gaps in protection faced by survivors of domestic violence.

The consultation aims to not only unearth the challenges faced by government as domestic violence responders in delivering crucial protections to survivors of domestic violence, but also to plan and strategize potential solutions to these challenges.

The Multi-Stakeholder Meeting on Domestic Violence was officially opened by Zalinah Mohd Yusof, deputy under-secretary of the Policy Division of the Women, Family & Community Development Ministry.

“With the Multi-Stakeholder Meeting, we are re-affirming our commitment to the Garis Panduan, ensuring that government has the necessary knowledge and resources to provide effective redress for survivors of domestic violence,” said Zalinah.

WAO would like to formally extend our gratitude to YB Senator Paul Low, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, for funding the Inter-agency Working Together Document & Meetings on Domestic Violence, including the Victim Support Video series, Multi-Stakeholder Meetings on Domestic Violence, and the Garis Panduan.

The nine government divisions expected to attend include Jabatan Peguam Negara; Jabatan Kebajikan Masyarakat (JKM); Polis Diraja Malaysia (PDRM); Pejabat Ketua Pendaftar Mahkamah Persekutuan (Mahkamah); Jabatan Kemajuan Islam Malaysia (Jakim) and Jabatan Agama Islam Negeri (JAIN); Kementerian Kesihatan Malaysia (KKM); Kementerian Pendidikan Tinggi (KPT); Jabatan Pembangunan Wanita (JPW); and Lembaga Penduduk dan Pembangunan Keluarga Negara (LPPKN).