MALAYSIAN women affected by gender discrimination will be able to testify at a women’s tribunal in November, to be organised by the Joint Action Group (JAG) and Engender Consultancy. 

In a virtual press conference today, JAG and Engender Consultancy said the witness testimonies will be presented under several themes, namely violence against women, health, education, family, gender identity and others. 

The tribunal will gather testimonies from affected persons and present them to an expert panel of judges focused on human rights and gender equality. It will be held from November 27 to December 4.

“The tribunal aims to provide an alternative form of justice and advocacy for women’s human rights and gender equality in Malaysia,” JAG said.

“It will present the lived realities of women in Malaysia through proceedings involving witnesses, advocates and a panel of judges.”

JAG said the judges will consist of Mary Shanthi Dairiam, founding director of International Women’s Rights Action Watch Asia Pacific; Zainah Anwar, co-founder of Sisters In Islam and Nadia Malyanah from UndiSarawak.

“These judges will hear the testimonies and present their findings and recommendations to Women, Family and Community Development Ministry, Human Rights Commission of Malaysia and politicians,” JAG said, adding that it will also be available for the public.

Meanwhile those presenting their testimonies will be given leniency to remain anonymous if they wish, in order to safeguard their identity as well as to avoid  backlash.

Counselling support will also be provided to the women if needed. 

Ivy Josiah, a women’s rights advocate and one of the speakers at the conference today, said the committee is mounting this tribunal not only to strengthen their lobbying efforts but to get the attention of the public as well as ordinary Malaysians who will get to hear first-hand the testimonies from affected women.

“After all, gender equality is everybody’s business. We seek wider public support for women’s issues, I believe that public pushback is the most powerful advocacy tool,” Josiah said.

JAG said while the women’s tribunal is not an officially sanctioned body, nor does it go through a formal judicial process, the organisers believe it will be guided by principles of inclusivity and intersectionality, and will be a powerful tool for gaining support for women’s rights and gender equality.

The tribunal aims to empower and create a space to amplify the voices of diverse women as agents of change as well to show gaps in law, policy, cultural and institutional structures and their impact.

It said it would also like to receive recommendations to effect change and hold the state accountable and to build solidarity and strengthen movements.

JAG said pre-registration will be needed by those interested to tune into the tribunal.

Those who are interested may register at WomensTribunalMalaysia.com. – September 29, 2021.