Kuala lumpur: A total of 1,131 domestic violence advocacy programmes were conducted last year, involving 154,241 participants nationwide, said Women, Family, and Community Development, Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri. She stated that these programmes, including the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women (EVAW) commemorated annually on Nov 25, aimed at raising awareness on violence against women and domestic violence.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Nancy emphasized that the ministry (KPWKM) is committed to addressing domestic violence through a comprehensive approach, collaborating with various agencies and community sectors. She highlighted the EVAW campaign's implementation at the state level through the Santuni Kasih@KRT initiative, designed to increase public awareness of this issue holistically.
Nancy disclosed that in 2025, 126 programmes were carried out, reaching over 80,000 participants across the country. She made these remarks during the question-and-answer session in the Dewan Rakyat today, in response to a question from Teresa Kok Suh Sim (PH-Seputeh) concerning the government's plans for anti-domestic violence awareness campaigns. This query followed a study indicating that 53.35 per cent of Malaysians perceive domestic violence as a normal reaction to daily stress.
She further highlighted that KPWKM, through the Department of Women Development (JPW), has introduced various support programmes, including counselling services and psycho-educational initiatives. These include the Aku Wanita@KRT programme, which raises awareness and supports women affected by domestic violence. The programme to Enhance Women's Resilience and Psychology (Matahari) helps build emotional strength, while the Legal Literacy and Women's Rights Programme (IRIS) empowers women with knowledge of their legal rights.
JPW has also established the Waja Squad, a volunteer team at the community level aimed at empowering the public through psychosocial guidance and raising awareness about crime and violence against women. In response to a supplementary question about inter-agency collaboration, Nancy stated that the Advocacy and Capacity Development Working Committee (JKAPK) under the Domestic Violence Committee (JKRT) plays a crucial role in coordinating information and statistics on domestic violence cases, as well as connecting government agencies with relevant bodies.
She further added that the ministry has implemented a comprehensive approach to address the post-trauma cycle resulting from domestic violence. This includes running advocacy programmes at educational institutions and schools, with over 300 schools targeted annually.