ID :
26200
Thu, 10/23/2008 - 17:59
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/26200
The shortlink copeid
INCLUDE WOMEN'S ISSUES IN MAINSTREAM PLANNING
KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 23 (Bernama) -- There is a dire need to thrust gender issues, especially those related to development of women, into mainstream planning at national as well as international levels, Women, Family and Community Development Minister Dr Ng Yen Yen said Wednesday.
"We find that it is mainly the women discussing issues on women at gender
specific forums, while it is obvious that to initiate change on gender-related
issues, they must be discussed, deliberated and agreed by and between all
related parties, particularly our male counterparts if gender equality is to be
achieved.
"What I am advocating is that we need to agree at this forum that we will
support and ensure that issues on women will be a mainstay of the main agendas
of all international meetings or cooperations and not be issues discussed only
at women-led forums," she said.
The Minister said this at the 2nd China-Asean High Level Women's
Forum in Nanning, China. The text of her speech was released to Bernama.
She said in Asia, women still represented the majority of the marginalised
population and according to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
Human Development Report 2007/2008, the ratio of estimated female to male earned
income for the Asean countries in 2005 ranged from 0.36 to 0.74 for females
compared to males which is one per cent, while the ratio in China was 0.64 per
cent.
"The report also pointed out that as of May 2007, neither the Asean
countries nor China had met the Beijing Platform for Action target of 30 per
cent of seats in Parliament to be held by women," she added.
On the local front, she said Malaysia had made efforts and progress in
mainstreaming gender issues and ensuring equal opportunities for Malaysian
women's participation in the economic, social and political spheres in
development of the country.
However, she said the legislative and corporate sectors had not shown
definite improvements and women were still under-represented in these two
sectors.
Women representation in the Malaysian Parliament accounted for only 26.7
per cent in the Upper House (Dewan Negara) and 10.8 per cent in the Lower House
(Dewan Rakyat).
"The percentage of women who are members of board of directors continued to
decline from 9.9 per cent in 2004 to 5.3 per cent in 2007. However, women who
hold the positions of general manager to president or chief executive officer
(CEO) of companies increased gradually from 13.5 per cent in 2004 to 24 per cent
in 2007," she added.
She said these issues have been brought to the attention of the nation's
leaders and the cabinet committee on women and steps were being taken to rectify
the situation to ensure better representation of women.
"It is clear that there is a lot more to be done, to advance women in
Malaysia and efforts are being taken to overcome challenges that include
coordination issues, getting more support and involvement of other agencies,
capacity building, difficulties in attaining data and the need to further gender
sensitive government officers especially enforcement and judiciary officials,"
she added.
"We find that it is mainly the women discussing issues on women at gender
specific forums, while it is obvious that to initiate change on gender-related
issues, they must be discussed, deliberated and agreed by and between all
related parties, particularly our male counterparts if gender equality is to be
achieved.
"What I am advocating is that we need to agree at this forum that we will
support and ensure that issues on women will be a mainstay of the main agendas
of all international meetings or cooperations and not be issues discussed only
at women-led forums," she said.
The Minister said this at the 2nd China-Asean High Level Women's
Forum in Nanning, China. The text of her speech was released to Bernama.
She said in Asia, women still represented the majority of the marginalised
population and according to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
Human Development Report 2007/2008, the ratio of estimated female to male earned
income for the Asean countries in 2005 ranged from 0.36 to 0.74 for females
compared to males which is one per cent, while the ratio in China was 0.64 per
cent.
"The report also pointed out that as of May 2007, neither the Asean
countries nor China had met the Beijing Platform for Action target of 30 per
cent of seats in Parliament to be held by women," she added.
On the local front, she said Malaysia had made efforts and progress in
mainstreaming gender issues and ensuring equal opportunities for Malaysian
women's participation in the economic, social and political spheres in
development of the country.
However, she said the legislative and corporate sectors had not shown
definite improvements and women were still under-represented in these two
sectors.
Women representation in the Malaysian Parliament accounted for only 26.7
per cent in the Upper House (Dewan Negara) and 10.8 per cent in the Lower House
(Dewan Rakyat).
"The percentage of women who are members of board of directors continued to
decline from 9.9 per cent in 2004 to 5.3 per cent in 2007. However, women who
hold the positions of general manager to president or chief executive officer
(CEO) of companies increased gradually from 13.5 per cent in 2004 to 24 per cent
in 2007," she added.
She said these issues have been brought to the attention of the nation's
leaders and the cabinet committee on women and steps were being taken to rectify
the situation to ensure better representation of women.
"It is clear that there is a lot more to be done, to advance women in
Malaysia and efforts are being taken to overcome challenges that include
coordination issues, getting more support and involvement of other agencies,
capacity building, difficulties in attaining data and the need to further gender
sensitive government officers especially enforcement and judiciary officials,"
she added.
