Malaysia Women & Girls Forum 2021 Schedule
10 AM
Opening
Welcome address by Emcee, Zooey Teo
10:05 AM
Welcome Address
Ms. Karima El Korri, United Nations Resident Coordinator for Malaysia, Singapore & Brunei Darussalam
10:10 AM
Opening Remarks
Dr. Asa Torkelsson, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Malaysia Representative
10:15 AM
Keynote Address
YB Tuan Khairy Jamaluddin, Minister of Health, Malaysia
10:25 AM
MWGF 2021 Launch Video
Official launch of Malaysia Women & Girls Forum 2021
10:30 AM
Guidelines and Overview
Overall Format, Concept and Mechanism by Emcee, Zooey Teo
10:30 AM - 11:30 AM
Plenary Session 1: Bodily Autonomy as a Pillar of Human Rights – Understanding the Challenges of Achieving and Embedding Bodily Autonomy in Malaysia as an Accelerator Towards Achieving Gender Equality.
Without the concept and application of Bodily Autonomy, there can be no human rights. This panel aims to explore the extent of knowledge, application and legal reinforcements regarding Bodily Autonomy in Malaysia. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have grave socioeconomic impacts on the lives and wellbeing of women & girls, it's essential to focus on a whole of society approach towards upholding Bodily Autonomy.
Moderator:
Tehmina Kaoosji, MWGF Head of Secretariat
Panellists:
YB Puan Fuziah Salleh, Member of Parliament, Kuantan & Member of Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) for Women, Children & Social Development Issues
Dr. Senutha Poopale Ratthinan, Deputy Undersecretary, Policy & Strategic Planning Division, Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development (KPWKM)
Dato' Dr. Narimah Awin, Former Chairperson of National Population & Family Health Development Malaysia (LPPKN), Former Director, Family Health Development Division, Ministry of Health Malaysia & Former Regional Advisor, Maternal and Reproductive Health, World Health Organisation (WHO)
Ong Bee Leng, Chief Executive Officer, Penang Women's Development Corporation (PWDC)
Zarizana Abdul Aziz, Human Rights Lawyer & Co-founder Due Diligence Project (DDP)
11:30 AM - 12:00 PM
Keynote Session 2: Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) and Bodily Autonomy
Every day, people make crucial choices about their sexual and reproductive health. However, many do not have adequate information about human development, anatomy and reproductive health, which leaves them vulnerable to coercion and health consequences including STIs and unintended pregnancies.
Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE), when started from young, empowers girls in particular- with crucial information, allowing for full Bodily Autonomy and making informed choices that suit our individual lives.
Keynote by:
Siti Aishah Hassan Hasri, Founder, Spot Community Programme
Moderator:
Ain Husniza Saiful Nizam, Student Activist
12:00 PM - 12:15 PM
Break
A short recess
12:15 PM - 1:15 PM
Plenary Session 2: Understanding Bodily Autonomy as a basis to end Violence Against Women & Girls- the Civil Society Perspective
Upholding Bodily Autonomy reduces all forms of Violence Against Women, across social, pedagogical, faith-based, political and domestic arenas. With the COVID-19 pandemic's concerning increase in Violence Against Women, it is vital to understand the current scenario and root causes of Gender-Based Violence. In this panel, we focus on the role, perspectives and recommendations of Civil Society in centring the rights and choices of Malaysia's Women & Girls.
Moderator:
YB Puan Nurul Izzah Anwar, Member of Parliament, Permatang Pauh
Panellists:
Nisha Sabanayagam, Executive Director, All Women's Action Society (AWAM)
Sumitra Visvanathan, Executive Director, Women's Aid Organisation (WAO)
Karen Lai, Programme Director, Women's Centre for Change (WCC)
Dr. Lai Suat Yan, Senior Lecturer, Gender Studies Program, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, University of Malaya
1:15 PM - 1:45 PM
Keynote 3: Bodily Autonomy- the role of Media in promoting Gender Equality in Malaysia
The media influences our attitudes, behaviours and understanding of ourselves with regards to gender, rights, social norms and justice. As media companies, especially social media, come under scrutiny for unfair depictions, sensationalism and misrepresentation of women and girls, the influx of harmful engagements continues to grow.
This keynote explores key considerations regarding regulation, ethics and standards for media organisations and the role of gender-progressive journalism.
Keynote by:
Dr. Melissa Yoong, Assistant Professor in Sociolinguistics & Discourse Analysis, University of Nottingham Malaysia
Moderator:
Tehmina Kaoosji, MWGF Head of Secretariat, Independent Broadcast Journalist & Gender Activist
1:45 PM - 2:45 PM
Plenary Session 3: Bodily Autonomy – The Youth & Social Narrative
Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the digital voices of Malaysia's youth rang the loudest, serving as a collective conscience through the pandemic's struggles- from digital activism to fund raising and highlighting injustices.
This panel discusses perspectives on Bodily Autonomy by addressing youth-centric issues raised during the pandemic- including access to education, period spot checks, rape culture in schools and in media, sexual harassment and gender based violence and child sexual abuse.
Moderator:
Dr. Fatimah Al-Attas, Senior Lecturer, Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Islamic International University Malaysia (IIUM)
Panellists:
Firzana Redzuan, Founder, Monsters Among Us (MAU)
Kimberley Tan, Committee Member of Sarawak Women for Women Society (SWWS)
Nadira Ilana, Independent Filmmaker, Film Programmer and Writer
Hadi Azmi, Independent Journalist
2:50 PM - 3:00 PM
MWGF 2021 RESOLUTION
A nominated representative from the Secretariat will present key recommendations to be compiled into the MWGF 2021 Summary and presented to both relevant ministries, committees & organisations
3:00 PM
Closing
End of MWGF 2021