Closing Remarks: International Women's Day Forum 2023: Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment in Malaysia Madani

From social media this morning:

‘Here’s to strong women.

May we know them.

May we be them.

May we raise them’.

YB Dato Sri Azalina Othman Said, Minister for Law Reforms & Institutional Governance

YB Fahmi Fadzil, Minister of Communications and Digital (no confirmation as of now)

Ms. Karima El Korri, UN Resident Coordinator for Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei Darussalam

YBhg. Prof. Emerita Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Dr. Sharifah Hapsah Syed Hasan Shahabudin, President, National Council of Women’s Organizations (NCWO)

Your Excellencies, members of the media and distinguished guests

First and foremost, I would like to thank NCWO, UN RCO and my team at UNFPA Malaysia for bringing us together for the International Women’s Day 2023, making it precisely the meaningful moment, strategic action prompt, and energy point towards realizing gender equality, that it is meant to be.

I convey my heartful appreciation to our moderator, and all panelists, speakers for sharing your knowledge, insights and solutions towards ensuring that the rights, well-being, representation and opportunities for Malaysia’s women and girls are firmly established, as we progress towards the 2030 SDGs.

We also send gratitude to leaders and activists before who have worked relentlessly to bring us to this point, and others gathering virtually and in person all around the world today, and feel grateful to represent one link on this collective journey.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is victorious that we could now meet again, after the disruptions and stressors brought about by COVID, and other poly crises, which have furter challenged and backlashed on the lives and well-being of women and girls. Worldwide, youth have lost years of schooling, with lifelong consequences. Specifically, girls fell deeper into poverty and experienced new vulnerabilities, gender based violence, including child marriage, with enormous mental health tolls.

This requires global unity, solidarity and action.

Digital innovations accelerated and offered new solutions. At the same time, again, women fell behind.

Hence, serving women’s needs and protecting us in the virtual world, is our new frontier to realize.

Distinguished audience,

For many, Malaysia is a model, or distant dream, to aspire to.

Wonderful new progress is discerned in Malaysia , and over the years, tremendous advances have been made in education and health. Further effort is required to maintain momentum and successfully navigate any upcoming challenges.

Yet, there is still a gap in terms of labour force participation, that of women being one of the lowest in the region.

Earlier, I have referred to this as one ‘Cinderella paradox’ ; namely whilst there are no de facto barriers to women’s labour market participation, careering and political participation, the many distracting demands on women’s time, work conditions, obstacles and expectations can sometimes be unsurmountable.

For an upper middle-income country eyeing the high income path, addressing the nexus between women’s productive and reproductive choices, including developing the care economy, support to women’s businesses, large and small, enhancing women’s digital access, will accelerate women’s contribution to the economy and society, unleash growth, add critical human capital, and expedite progress towards the 2030 SDGs.

Reproductive and productive choices are intimately linked together, in our lived experience, and are the variables of our life equation.

For example, comprehensive sexuality education, knowledge about rights, pathways for support against gender based violence, support for menstrual management, financial inclusion, capacity strengthening and digital access, save and enhance lives. Family friendly policies.

This was reconfirmed in last year’s 3rd Malaysia Women and Girls Forum in December themed on Expanding Women’s Rights through Economic Equity which made recommendations to expedite women’s labour force participation and hence expediting the progress towards a high income economy and realizing Malaysia’s SDG aspirations.

Dear Friends

We have learned that across the world, women are still deprived in terms of the range of assets, voice, bodily autonomy, and across the SDGs. As shown by the recent gender gap report by the World Economic forum, worldwide, at the current pace, it will take 132 years to close gender related gaps. We may much sooner grow vegetables on the moon, at scale.

COVID also taught us that we can change ingrained behaviours. If we want.

Yet, the evidence over time, convincingly and loud, clearly demonstrates with certainty that investing and providing equality in opportunity for girls and women brings better development outcomes, elevated growth and peaceful societies, aside from being a human right, and is ‘smart economics’, is better for all. Diverse work places fare better in terms of efficiency, innovation, accountability, drive compassion and prosperity.

In spite of this recognition, women’s rights still have to be advocated every day. Adequate and consistent efforts and investments are needed.

This is not a ‘rocket science’, it is much more difficult, but together, it can be done.

Illustrious gathering

Today’s discussions emphasized enabling environments and digital inclusion, both of which are instrumental for removing barriers for women’s economic participation in Malaysia. It has been inspiring to hear diverse political, civil society, corporate & youth champion perspectives and commitments for uplifting Malaysia’s women & girls. Together, steadily we can overcome the intersectional challenges. 

Tangible and result oriented measures, policies and programs designed to bridge socio-economic gaps are required to ensure the well-being of all women and girls so that no one will be left behind in our global collective efforts to rebuild and regain momentum towards the 2030 SDGs.

Striving towards gender equality is well aligned and can expedite the realization of the inspirational Malaysia’s Madani - Sustainability, Prosperity, Innovation, Respect, Trust and Compassion.

Here, we are in the centre and cross roads of marvellous and grand cultures and religions, and this is a tremendous entry for seeking perspectives of agreement, for seeing the world from the ‘others’ perspective, a great starting point for a diplomat and peace maker.

The Sun goes up first in Asia Pacific. We are ahead in the world, and already in someone else’s future. We can use this tremendous advantage to pilot equitable models towards peace and justice for all, in the spirit of Madani.

This point in time requires a determined restoration and activation of connectedness and engagement, tilting challenges into possibilities, networking and resetting the collaborative trend towards peace and justice, founding features of the United Nations.

Changemakers in the room, and viewers online, together we can add our contributions towards ensuring that the future for Malaysia’s Women and Girls is one of opportunity, safety and equality. 

On this day and going forward, we remain resolved to contribute change in this direction, radically optimistic and in high hope.

On Behalf of everyone at the United Nations & UNFPA Malaysia, TERIMA KASIH and here’s wishing everyone – A happy International Women’s Day.