UNFPA Malaysia Celebrates 50 Years of Progress with national partners and launches joint Report with Ministry of Economy

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) marked its 50th year working with the people and government of Malaysia – by holding a High-Tea event at the scenic Boathouse event space in Ampang, celebrating the occasion with partners from key government agencies, Civil Society & Non-Governmental Organisations, as well academics, former civil servants, activists and members of the media. 

Yang Berhormat Dato’ Sri Nancy Shukri, Minister of Women, Family & Community Development (KPWKM), in her keynote address, congratulated UNFPA Malaysia on achieving such a milestone – highlighting the UN agency’s “continuous effort to uplift and embed the rights, welfare and access to choice for all Malaysians – especially our women and girls”.

In her welcoming remarks Dr. Asa Torkelsson, UNFPA Malaysia’s Country Representative, emphasized the many years of working closely with KPWKM and the National Population and Family Development Board (LPPKN) “ to achieve transformative results, particularly in addressing the unmet need for family planning, gender-based violence, and harmful practices. For half a century, since 1973, the UNFPA Malaysia Country Office has worked closely and continuously with the people & government of Malaysia to uplift the quality of life and expand choices for Malaysians”.

Also present at the event were Karima El Korri, United Nations Resident Coordinator for Malaysia, Singapore & Brunei Darussalam, Dato Sri Rohani Abdul Karim, Chairperson of LPPKN, Dr. Nagulendran Kangayatkarasu, Secretary General of the Ministry of Youth and Sports and Dr. Wan Nur Ibtisam Binti Wan Ismail, Director General of the Department of Women’s Development.

The event featured the launch of the much-anticipated report called “Enhancing Human Capital Through Sexual & Reproductive Health Investments and Family Support Policies in Malaysia”, jointly funded by the Ministry of Economy Malaysia, UNFPA Malaysia and developed by Harvard T.H Chan School of Public Health.  The report evidences how Malaysia can enhance human capital via strategic investments in Sexual & Reproductive Health as well as vital family support policies and services in order to increase the female labour force participation rate (LFPR) and achieve essential national milestones, and hence expedite further the country’s transition to a high-income nation.

In reference to the launch of the report, YB Dato’ Sri Nancy said, “This is an important evidence-based report to justify further investments in sexual and reproductive health and support services– especially for our Women and girls – impacting their labour force participation rate, quality of life, family cohesion, access and of course address the burdens and barriers of Unpaid Care Work”.

“Overwhelmingly done by women, many care activities are often unpaid and unrecognised,  taking into consideration that in Malaysia women outperform as well as makeup over 62% of all undergraduates – the opportunity cost for women, and the nation is very high and detrimental”, she continued - also highlighting that female graduates make up more than half of the current unemployment rate. The Minister went on to further highlight the importance of attaining vital data on care work – in order to be able to identify care deficits and areas that need to be targeted by policies. “This will also allow us to value the Care Economy, in terms of time, expertise, opportunity cost and social merit – and have annual statistics and analysis on this to act upon – in each national budget”.

Lastly, Dato’ Sri Nancy Shukri – announced that her Ministry would be collaborating with UNFPA Malaysia to create a realisable and equitable national roadmap towards increasing Malaysia’s Female labour force participation rate. The High-Tea also saw two panel sessions entitled “50 Years of Progress & Beyond – Leaving No One Behind” and “Sexual & Reproductive Health Investments in Malaysia and its role in National Development and the 2030 SDGs” 

Both sessions were moderated by Tehmina Kaoosji, Independent Broadcast Journalist, the first panel session featured perspectives on Malaysia’s challenges and achievements over the past 50 years, achieving UNFPA’s mandates, addressing Malaysia’s ageing nation status & its socio-economic impacts. The panellists were:

• Tengku Aira Tengku Razif, Assistant Representative, UNFPA Malaysia
• Datuk Dr. Raj Karim,  Vice-President, Federation of Reproductive Health Associations Malaysia (FRHAM)
• Mr. Chai Sen Tyng, Senior Researcher, Malaysia Institute of Ageing (Myageing) UPM

A special presentation by Tengku Aira Tengku Razif, UNFPA Malaysia’s Assistant Representative, brought into focus the findings & recommendations from the recently launched report on “Enhancing Human Capital through Sexual & Reproductive Health Investments & Family Support Policies in Malaysia. Spanning across the core thrusts of Comprehensive Sexuality Education, HPV vaccinations, access to family planning and family support services – she explained that investments into these rendered a range of highly positive returns.

The second panel further explored the above topic and dove into the benefits, challenges and urgency for investments towards Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) access and family support policies. The panel saw further explorations into the importance of Comprehensive Sexuality Education and its impact on unplanned pregnancies and SRH’s impact in holistically addressing Malaysia’s low female Labour Force Participation Rate. The panellists were:

• Dato Dr. Narimah Awin, Technical Advisor on Sexual & Reproductive Health, UNFPA Malaysia
• Mr. Chandran Sundaraj, Principal Assistant Director, Social Services Division, Ministry of Economy
• Dr. Vilashni  Somiah, Anthropologist, Documentary Filmmaker and Senior Lecturer, Gender Studies Programme, Universiti Malaya
• Dr. Subatra Jayaraj, President, Reproductive Rights Advocacy Alliance Malaysia (RRAAM)

In her closing address, Dr. Asa in her closing address thanked all of UNFPA Malaysia’s partners and allies across all sectors – including governmental and non-governmental supporters. She highlighted that UNFPA Malaysia has finalised and agreed with the Malaysian government to further advance UNFPA’s work in Malaysia. She closed the event with a call for more emphasis on achieving gender equality stating, “ When we unlock the full potential of women and girls – encouraging and nurturing our desires for their lives, their families and their careers – we galvanize the leadership, ideas, innovation, and creativity of all towards a better society.

The event also saw the attendance of members of the diplomatic community, academics, Senior Civil Service representation, NGO’s, CSO’s, Academia, Activists and members of the media.

Access UNFPA Malaysia, Ministry of Economy Malaysia & Harvard T.H Chan School of Public Health – report on “Enhancing Human Capital via Sexual & Reproductive Health Investments & Family Support Services in Malaysia” here.