PUTRAJAYA, May 17 — Malaysia is participating in the Constructive Dialogue Session for the Presentation of the Periodic Report of the Sixth Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), to be held from tomorrow until May 26 in Geneva, Switzerland.
Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri left for Geneva yesterday to lead the Malaysian delegation.
A statement by the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry (KPWKM) said Nancy is the first minister to lead the country’s delegation to the dialogue to address questions and defend the country’s Sixth Periodic Report to the CEDAW Committee.
“Malaysia’s participation in CEDAW reflects the country’s serious commitment in every cooperation at the international level to eliminate discrimination against women,” read the statement.
Members of the Malaysian delegation include KPWKM secretary-general Datuk Maziah Che Yusoff, senior officials and representatives of ministries such as the Home Affairs Ministry, the Health Ministry and the Foreign Ministry.
Several non-governmental organisations such as Malaysia’s Human Rights Commission will also participate in the dialogue.
Malaysia joined the convention on July 5, 1995. The convention emphasises efforts to eliminate all forms of discrimination against women in political, economic, social and cultural fields.
Under Article 18 of the CEDAW Convention, a state party has to submit a periodic report every four years and carry out a review, provide feedback and participate in constructive dialogue sessions.
KPWKM is confident Malaysia’s participation in the CEDAW dialogue will increase the impact of the ministry’s efforts to protect the basic rights of target groups, especially women and girls, based on the Federal Constitution and the country’s laws.
— Bernama
