Organisers: EMPOWER, Women’s Aid Organisation, Sisters in Islam, Jaringan Rakyat Tertindas (JERIT), Suara Rakyat (SUARAM), Tenaganita, Centre for Independant Journalism (CIJ), Malaysia Youth and Students’ Democratic Movement (DEMA), Persatuan Sahabat Wanita Selangor and All Women’s Action Society.
100 years of women’s struggles – in commemoration of International Women’s Day
Saturday, March 26 · 9:30am – 12:30pm
Central Market, Kuala Lumpur
*Why we MUST walk *
- Everyday, 10 women report physical, emotional and sexual abuse; – 9,575 statutory rape cases were reported over the past 5 years; – Every day, four women are raped in Malaysia; – Migrant workers are increasingly abused, tortured and enslaved; – Basic, decent minimum wages do not yet exist for all Malaysians; -Women in the plantation and informal sectors earn well below the poverty line; – Amendments to the Employment Act remove work security and erode the
rights women gained at work;
- The Federal Constitution, the Supreme Law of the Land, have clauses that continue to discriminate against women; – Amendments to the Islamic Family Law Act have diminished the rights of Muslim women; – Representation of women in politics has been less than 10% for the past 20 years; – Women labour force participation has stagnated at 47% for the past 20 years;
- Foreign wives with more than 10 years of residency still denied permanent residence. We walk because it is our right – to be seen, heard and respected as equals. We walk for all women who remain hidden, silenced and discriminated. We call upon ALL parliamentarians, state assembly persons, government representatives AND the PEOPLE of Malaysia — Make the Change. We want women’s voice and representation at all levels of decision making.WILL YOU WALK WITH US?