Women’s Issues in Penang

1
Womens Issues in Penang

• Some suggestions for overall advancement,
  development and empowerment of women

2
Principles of Equality and Non Discrimination

• Federal Constitution Article 8(1) and 8(2)
• National Policy on Women (1989)
• 9th Malaysia Plan (2006-2010)
• NAM Putrajaya declaration (2005)
• UN CEDAW (1995)

3
Role of the State Govt

• Must respond to the needs of women
• Directly or through the local authorities
• State legislature can make laws wrt matters in
  concurrent list - Article 74(2) of Federal
  Constitution

4
Advancement, development and empowerment of women

• 3 areas
• Economy
• Politics Decision Making
• Society

5
1. Economy

• Objective 1
• To ensure the full and equitable
• participation of women in the economy
• Action
• Provide accessible and affordable facilities
• for child care and care for the elderly
  disabled
• Provide micro-financing to
• vulnerable groups

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1. Economy contd

• Objective 2
• To promote the rights of women in the workplace
• Action
• Promote pay equity, min wage
• flexibility of hours, SH Code of Practice
• Training to upgrade skills empower women
• Committee to oversee and ensure the welfare
  rights of women migrant workers
• including domestic workers

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2. Politics and Decision Making

• Objective 1
• Increase womens participation in Penang State
• and local government, especially in decision
• making levels within 5 years)

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Women in Decision Making LevelsMinistry of Women
Family and Community Development 2007
9

• Action
• Implement quota 30 (9th Msia Plan)- State
  executive council, local authorities council,
  nominations in political parties
• Appt more women reps at all levels of govt
• Encourage participation of women through
  education, leadership capacity building
  training
• Research structural attitudinal barriers to
  womens participation

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3. Society

• Objective 1
• Eliminate Violence Against Women

PDRM Stats 2007
11

• Action
• Community education/gender sensitization
• Training for service providers
• Resources for infrastructure (shelters)

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3. Society (contd)

• Objective 2
• To eradicate discrimination against women
• Action
• Review all state laws, policies and practices
• to ensure that womens rights interests
• are protected.
• Provide gender sensitization prog. on
• regular basis at all levels of society.

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3. Society contd

• Objective 3
• To provide housing for vulnerable groups
• Action
• Quality, community orientated low cost
• housing for vulnerable groups including
• single mothers, disabled and the poor.

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3. Society contd

• Objective 4
• Provide affordable and accessible healthcare
• services to women
• Action
• Provide resources to create/upgrade facilities
• for physical and mental health
• Supplement existing programmes where
• necessary

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3. Society contd

• Objective 5
• Engage women in building support structures in
  the
• community which transcend ethnicity, culture and
• religion
• Action
• Provide resources for setting up community groups
  to provide opportunities for dialogue,
• relationship building movement
• for change

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Summary

• Economy women participation rights
• Politics Decision making 30 quota
• Society VAW, discrimination against women,
• health, housing, community
• building