In The News
This piece was originally published in Malaysiakini on 18 June 2007.
Breaking out of the gender-trap
Yoges Palaniappan
It's a conundrum. Why are human rights issues involving women's interests still seen as purely a women's issue?
Searching for answers, a discussion on 'Democracy Matters' zero-ed in on changing the political system as the best way of cutting through the confusion and taking the issues forward.
The session was part of a wide-ranging programme of activities at the three-day Fiesta Feminista in Kuala Lumpur which ended yesterday.
It saw a more detailed discussion of human rights and democracy following an introductory lecture on the main issues by rights activist Zaitun Kasim.
She highlighted the problems in Malaysia's record on democracy:
- lack of transparency
- growing racial/religious divide
- attacks in the name of religion
- culture of aggression by enforcement agencies like the police, Rela and local councils
- curbs on press freedom and freedom of expression
- issues involving the judiciary
"Women should worry because we are affected as citizens, workers and members of the family and community," she told a plenary session.
"We need space to discuss issues and to demand better for women without being threatened as all rights and freedoms are interlinked."
Zaitun pointed out the need to "inform and involve women" in order to redress inequalities in legislation, and to consolidate partnership across social movement to advance issues that currently affect women in particular within the larger framework of human rights.
"There are no short cuts to movement building - we need composite strategies that encompass women's experiences and which result in equality and inclusion," she added.
Changing the situation
Picking up the threads, the breakout session of about 80 participants discussed ways to bring about changes to the situation.
Remarked one participant: "Women's issues are no different than human rights issues they're always interlinked and intertwined. Both human rights and women's rights are related to democracy."
Moderator Prema Devaraj of Women's Centre for Change agreed with him, saying that issues like domestic violence, marital rape and sexual harassment are always considered "women's issues" in politics.
She cited the example of the 'bocor issue' being pushed to the women, family and community development ministry, when the cabinet should have dealt with it.
"This was not just a women's concern, it was a human rights violation" she said.
Several participants who joined in the open discussion were of the view that women should be more active in politics.
Some said more women members of Parliament should be elected, but this did not go down well with those who felt it would not change the situation.
"Sometimes MPs can't speak their mind because of where they are," said Annie Verghese, in reference to Women, Family and Community Development Minister Shahrizat Abdul Jalil's handling of the sexist remarks by the Kinabatangan and Jasin parliamentarians.
"She couldn't say her piece because of her position and the political regime she is with, although I believe she would have wanted to say more."
On that note, a representative of grassroots movement Jerit said there should be deeper political change with emphasis on commitment to gender sensitisation.
"We are caught in a capitalist society where discriminatory policies are advocated. So, to fight for human rights and women's rights, we need to change the policies by changing our political system," she said.
Other participants agreed that women should come out of their "cocoon of fear" to get their voices heard by speaking out.
Fiesta Feminista was organised by the Joint Action Group, a broad-based coalition advocating equal treatment of women in all spheres of Malaysian life.
The event cut across class, age, ethnicity, culture, religion and sexuality to provide a platform for some 500 participants to 'recognise and celebrate diversity'.
