KUALA TERENGGANU, Dec 18 — Violence against women is on the decline due to the various public awareness programmes on the problem carried out by the government.
Women, Family and Community Development Deputy Minister, Datuk Azizah Mohd Dun said according to the ministry’s statistics, 2,229 cases of violence against women were recorded this year until September compared to 2,588 cases in the same period last year.
“We hope the number will continue to drop and the government will carry on with awareness campaigns in increasing the community’s involvement in checking the problem.
“The Nur 15999 line is also among the factors for the declining rates as the people now know where to seek help and what to do when they come across such a case,” she said.
Earlier, Azizah officiated at the graduation of 65 participants of the skills incubator programme for single mothers (I-Kit) and women entrepreneurial incubator programme (I-KeuNITA), here, today.
Each participant was required to undergo the incubator programmes in various skills like sewing bedding sets and curtains and making snacks for at least five days before they were given a certificate to facilitate their getting financial assistance from institutions like Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia (AIM) and the National Entrepreneurial Group Economic Fund (Tekun Nasional).
Azizah said the effectiveness of the programmes was proven when 50 per cent of the participants were now carrying out their own business to earn higher incomes.
“We encourage the participants to become entrepreneurs so that they can provide job opportunities for other women,” she said. — Bernama
