Kuala lumpur: Wanita Berdaya Selangor (WBS) presented a 'Call to Action' document aimed at addressing cultural and structural barriers hindering women's full participation in politics, leadership, and economic sectors in Malaysia and the broader ASEAN region.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Women's Development and Social Welfare Committee chairman Anfaal Saari emphasized the necessity of this initiative, highlighting a significant gender gap identified through index analysis, particularly in economic and political spheres. Saari pointed out that in Selangor, women's political participation is limited to 16 percent, with only nine out of 56 seats occupied by women, indicating an unsatisfactory level of involvement.
Saari noted that insufficient female representation in politics impacts the attention given to special needs groups, stressing the importance of women's voices in leadership. She pointed out that women representatives can better address the needs of marginalized groups such as children, people with disabilities, and the elderly through policy at both state and federal levels.
The document's call to action includes institutionalizing gender mainstreaming, implementing a gender-responsive budget across governance levels, ensuring equal representation of women in government through inclusive policies, and establishing anti-discrimination mechanisms. It also urges stakeholders to invest in care infrastructure and recognize care work as a crucial economic driver.
Additional calls to action involve bridging the digital divide by fostering a safe online environment, empowering women in the green sector, and aligning national laws with global conventions like the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and International Labour Organisation (ILO) standards to enforce the rights being championed.
The forum also marked a collaboration agreement between WBS and INCEIF University through the ISRA Institute and Parent At Work, Australia, underscoring their commitment to promoting inclusive innovation in the care economy sector, enhancing women's resilience, and providing a support system for working parents, particularly in balancing career and family responsibilities.
Meanwhile, WBS chief executive officer Siti Faridah Abdul Samad highlighted the persistent underrepresentation of Malaysian women at all decision-making levels, often facing discrimination, bias, violence, and structural barriers in politics. She advocated for protective measures, zero-tolerance policies on harassment, and stronger commitments from political parties. She also called for enhanced civic education to challenge stereotypes and normalize women's leadership at every decision-making level.
Faridah underscored the need for investment in care infrastructure, noting that women spend significantly more hours than men on unpaid care work, thereby limiting their economic opportunities. She urged ASEAN leaders to invest in childcare, elderly care, and family-friendly policies to encourage women's workforce participation, which could also drive Gross Domestic Product growth.
The Gender Outlook Forum, held annually since 2022, acts as a regional platform to exchange best practices, strengthen policy dialogue, and foster multi-stakeholder collaboration to advance gender equality.