Today we celebrate the International Women’s Day (IWD). This day was first honoured in 1911 where more than 1 million people gathered to campaign for women’s rights to work, vote, be trained, to hold public office and to end discrimination.

More than a century after, we have seen great improvements in all these areas but much remains to be done. According to the International Parliamentary Union (IPU), there are about 9,000 women parliamentarians in 190 countries worldwide.

Women continue to be discriminated as gender roles and expectations and access to resources create entry barriers to women representation and leadership in both business and politics. Women only occupy 20 percent of lower-level parliamentary seats on average, internationally.

Since 2009, Parti Keadilan Rakyat amended its party constitution to include a 30 percent quota for women. This move is to ensure that more women are encouraged to take part in politics and to take ownership and responsibility over the decision making processes.

‘Make It Happen’ is the theme for this year’s IWD and this year we are campaigning to ‘End the Right to Rape’.

  • In 142 countries, rape within marriage is not explicitly outlawed;
  • Up to 50 percent of assaults worldwide are committed against girls aged under 16;
  • One in three women worldwide have experienced physical or sexual violence.
Wanita Keadilan echoes the urging to ‘End the Right to Rape’. Women should not be afraid to voice out or report rape for fear of embarrassment or stigma. The only way to stop such violence is when we are aware that we have the right to say no, to decide and to have full control over our body. No man has the right to rape.

ZURAIDA KAMARUDDIN is the Member of Parliament for Ampang and PKR Women’s wing chief.