In the face of the ongoing COVID-19 crisis and its drastic impact on the lives and wellbeing of women & girls, UNFPA Malaysia on behalf of the United Nations in Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei Darussalam, as lead of the UN Gender Results Group has conceptualized the establishment of the Malaysia Women and Girls Forum (MWGF) to enable an annual review of the progress of Malaysian women and girls.
Scheduled to be livestreamed on UNFPA Malaysia’s Facebook page on the 17th of December from 10:00am to 3:30pm, MWGF is open to the public and encourages the participation of the media, private and public sectors to contribute their perspectives and derive vital insights on the importance and impact of centering Malaysia’s COVID-19 recovery on women & girls.
About MWGF:
Funded and supported by the United Nations in Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei Darussalam & United Nations Population Fund Malaysia, MWGF collectively amplifies, tracks and provides proactive recommendations & solutions on the progress of advancing the rights and wellbeing of Malaysia’s women and girls.
MWGF Pillars:
1. Building towards the 2030 SDGs
2. Attaining Gender Equality
3. Ending Gender-based violence and Harmful Practices
4. Ending Unmet Need for Family Planning
5. Ending preventable Maternal death
6. Attaining full potential of young people
MWGF 2020 THEME: Malaysian Women & Girls at the heart of COVID-19 recovery
The COVID-19 pandemic has not only impacted the socio-economic aspects of Malaysia but it has also revealed fundamental gaps when it comes to the welfare and wellbeing of the country's women & girls.
Making up over half the population along with the highest levels of graduates, Malaysia's women & girls can play an instrumental part in guiding and speeding up Malaysia's recovery. In order to make this a reality, it is important to concentrate on bridging gaps in terms of economic parity, social & policy reforms, legislation, sexual & reproductive health rights, awareness drives as well as equitable funding.
According to World Bank’s report (Breaking Barriers: Toward Better Economic Opportunities for Women in Malaysia), income per capita could grow by 26.2 per cent — i.e., an average annual income gains of RM9,400 if all economic barriers are removed for women in Malaysia. All of which can make a critical difference to Malaysia’s overall economic recovery in 2021 and beyond.
Featured Keynotes & Panellists
Along with welcoming and introductory address by Stefan Priesner the United Nations Resident Coordinator for Malaysia, Singapore & Brunei Darussalam and Najib Assifi the UNFPA Malaysia Representative, a special keynote will be delivered by Senator and current Bernama Chairperson YB Senator Ras Adiba Radzi.
Other speakers and panellists include:
- Mei Ling Tan - Country Operations Officer World Bank
- Dr. Melati Nungsari - Asia School of Economic
- Natalie Hussein – Journalist, R.AGE
- Aishah Hasri – Founder, SPOT GIRL
MWGF is open to the public with panellists and speakers from the civil, non-governmental, academic, legislative, youth, public and private sectors representations respectively.
