HIGH LEVEL MEETING ON ACHIEVING THE TARGETS OF MALAYSIA’S NATIONAL POLICY ON WOMEN

Organized by:

Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development

and

NAM Institute for The Empowerment of Women

with support from

UN Women and The United Nations Country Team

31 May, 2011Renaissance Hotel, Kuala Lumpur

Group 2: Ending Violence Against Women

Issues:

1. Legislative Framework

2. Protection / Implementation

3. Prevention

Resolutions/Recommendations (A). LEGISLATIVE FRAMEWORK

1. Clear criminalization of domestic violence (cf section 3, DVA).

2. Sexual harassment: a stand-alone Sexual Harassment Act for Malaysia.

3. Marital rape: the removal of the exception that prevents a married woman from obtaining protection against forced sexual intercourse by the husband (cf section 375 Penal Code).

Group 2: Ending Violence Against Women

Group 2: Ending Violence Against Women

Resolutions/Recommendations (B). PROTECTION / IMPLEMENTATION  

1. To enhance effective cooperation from various agencies in intervening in VAW cases.

2. To formally include healthcare providers as responsible personnel under DVA.

3. To set up women shelter in each state – (irrespective of race and religion; 24 hours).

4. To include specific considerations on VAW issues in Gender Responsive Budgeting – (coordinate with group 4).

5. To recommend OSCC as a separate unit from the Ministry of Health (joint jurisdictions with relevant ministries)

6. To provide capacity building programs for OSCC personnel.

Group 2: Ending Violence Against Women

Resolutions/Recommendations (C). PREVENTIVE MEASURES

1. To support community-based initiatives / organizations in their efforts to empower individuals, families and communities in ending VAW.

2. To inculcate gender awareness, sensitization, equal norms and practices into the Malaysian socio-structures (eg. education and family systems).

3. To provide gender awareness and sensitization intervention (trainings, dialogues etc.) to justice agency personnel (civil and Syari’ah), religious, and community leaders.

4. To provide gender awareness and sensitization intervention (trainings, dialogues etc.) to religious and community leaders.

5. To engage with men: Ministry to enhance multi-approach programs involving men as main stakeholders.

Prepared by:WIEF-UiTM International Centre