In The News
This piece was originally published in the New Straits Times on 23 June 2007.
Stand up and speak out
When 500 people from various backgrounds gather to share, discuss, learn and strategise on issues of feminism, human rights and democracy, the profound impact it carries transcends all boundaries. Chai Mei Ling, R. Yasothai, Aniza Zainudin and Wong Ying Sim
Unfortunately, these are the very areas which dictate how women should lead their lives.
It is for this very reason that women should be all the more vocal in stating their stance, said human rights activist Zaitun Mohamed Kasim.
Issues on transparency, racial and religious divide, media and judiciary are not exclusive to men, she said.
"Women exist in all spheres of the society. As citizens, workers, members of the family and community, women are affected by all these issues."
"Stand up and speak out when you see injustices done to other groups. Everyone's concerns are intertwined."
There is no such thing as a single-issue struggle because we do not live single-issue lives, said Zaitun, quoting Audre Lorde.
Speaking at the plenary session of the Fiesta Feminista, Zaitun, or better known as Toni Kasim in the activist circle, said rights and freedoms are interlinked.
As such, one way to protect the people's rights is to accord them the freedom to speak.
"What good is it to know about women's issues if we do not have the space to talk and advocate change?
"Our culture is such that women do not freely voice out their opinions, but it is an obstacle that must be overcome."
Zaitun's talk encompassed the current human rights situation in Malaysia, the importance of women's involvement in democratic matters, and strategies on movement building.
The women's movement must consolidate and build partnership with other social organisations in the country to advance women's issues within a larger framework of human rights, she said.
Networking is one of the solutions in movement building, but it takes time and effort to iron out the conflict or inconsistency in ideology among organisations.
Lauding the fiesta for providing women a platform to network, express their opinions and raise their confidence, Zaitun said her wish for the nation's 50th year of independence is to have more women in Parliament.
