Sarawak Women, Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development Minister Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah (right) chatting with Asian Women's Leadership University College co-founder Tan Sri Zarinah Anwar at the International Women's Day conference in Kuching. - ZULAZHAR SHEBLEE/ The Star
KUCHING: Sarawak plans to improve gender equity in the state through a dedicated unit under the state Women and Family Department, says Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah.
The state’s Women, Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development Minister said that the gender equity unit was established earlier this year as part of the department's strategic planning.
“Now it's a formal unit with a proper structure and manpower," she said after launching the International Women's Day conference here on Monday (April 21).
Fatimah said the unit would examine gender equity in various fields, including education and politics, from multiple perspectives. It would also benchmark best practices from Malaysia and internationally to develop guidelines and strategies for gender equity.
She added that a head had been appointed for the unit, and its operational details were being finalised.
Fatimah also said the state government had approved a women's leadership chair at Swinburne University of Technology, Sarawak Campus, last year.
“We are fine-tuning its operations and programmes," she said.
In her speech earlier, Fatimah mentioned that her ministry would collaborate with the Asian Women's Leadership University College as a strategic partner to establish the women's leadership chair at Swinburne University.
She said her ministry also aimed to increase the representation of women in decision-making roles across all sectors, from corporate boards to local councils.
"New policy guidelines and incentives will be introduced to support this shift," she said.
