Unduk Ngadau duo urge women to learn what constitutes sexual harassment or abuse to protect themselves

(Right) Dianarin Vahidin and Febby Angelica Richard hopes women will support each other in whatever they do.

KOTA KINABALU: Girls and women are urged to understand what constitutes sexual harassment or abuse and other related matters so they can protect themselves, say two Unduk Ngadau participants.

Dianarin Vahidin, 23, and Febby Angelica, 18, who won second and third place respectively in the recently-concluded Unduk Ngadau (Harvest Queen) cultural pageant here, said girls can be easily taken advantage of if they do not possess basic information about women's rights.

"We ladies must know that we are powerful and strong in our own ways, and should never feel that we are the inferior gender," Dianarin said.

She said basic knowledge on women's rights that also includes harassment and what to do when faced with such situations can be found on the Internet or in libraries.

"As a community, as parents, siblings, relatives and friends, we must educate each other on these issues so that when things happen, we know where to get help," she said.

Dianarin said this with regards to the various harassment and abuse against women reported over the years without pointing specifically to any case.

The clerk from Paginatan in Ranau said she wanted to use her voice to educate and create more awareness on these issues via social media.

Dianarin also said she hoped to see stricter enforcement so that victims would have the courage to come forward and be protected as well as for justice to prevail.

Eighteen-year-old Febby, who is the Unduk Ngadau for Kundasang (Ranau), said that women must inspire one another to be better and to always want to learn more.

"We must motivate one another to think outside the box and to be successful in whatever we wish to do," she said, adding those with knowledge on certain issues should always share what they know.

"In terms of sexual harassment, we should know that there is a limit and law to everything and therefore, we must be brave to stand up for what is right and to talk about what is wrong," she said.

Febby said victims must know who to turn to for help and the community must give support where needed in such cases.

She said even native customs have sogit (customary penalty) for wrongdoers, be it for actions and things said or done.

The secondary school graduate, who hopes to be an educationist and cultural activist, said she would use social media to get informative messages across and hoped others would do their part as well.