Third Malaysia Women and Girls Forum sees six resolutions to expand women’s rights through economic equity

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 19 — Six key resolutions centred on safeguarding and expanding women’s rights through economic equity to boost Malaysia’s pandemic related economic recovery were drafted from this year's Malaysia Women and Girls Forum (MWGF).

The six resolutions were announced by MWGF head of secretariat Tehmina Kaoosji today and will be presented to the relevant ministries and policymakers in a report later.

Three of the resolutions were to enhance women’s economic equity and economic independence to improve Malaysia's female labour force participation rate; invest in Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) to reduce unintended pregnancies and invest in the care industry to address unpaid care work that disproportionately burdens women.

The remaining resolutions were to reform laws to mandate equal parental leave; address gender-stereotyping attitudes at home, work and within politics that impede women’s participation in the labour force; and gender-responsive budgeting and economic decisions to compulsory include the lived realities of marginalised communities and the disabled.

“The resolutions will be compiled as a report and presented to relevant Malaysian ministries andparliamentary select committees along with recommendations,” MWGF's secretariat said in a statement.

The forum that ended on December 15 saw the participation of over 24 panellists and speakers.

Among them were Karima El Korri, the UN resident coordinator for Malaysia, Singapore & Brunei Darussalam; Ampang MP Rodziah Ismail; Kampung Tunku state lawmaker Lim Yi Wei; Dr Asa Torkelsson who is United Nations Population Fund Malaysia (UNFPA) representative; child rights activist and Yayasan Chow Kit co-founder Datuk Hartini Zainudin.

Themed “Expanding Women’s Rights through Economic Equity”, this year’s forum examined barriers for female economic equity including access to Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) across the life cycle, gendered stereotypes around unpaid care work and the impact on women’s labour force participation rates (LFPR), while highlighting youth and social perspectives for changing these harmful practices.

MWGF is funded and supported by the United Nations in Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei Darussalam and UNFPA.

MWGF collectively amplifies, tracks and provides proactive recommendations and solutions on the progress of advancing the rights and wellbeing of women and girls in Malaysia.