Leveraging existing parliamentary process to review Anti-Sexual Harassment Bill 2021

THE Anti-Sexual Harassment Bill is scheduled for second reading in Parliament in the next few weeks. In anticipation of this, on March 14, 2022, the Joint Action Group for Gender Equality, ENGENDER Consultancy and Young Women Making Change met with the Minister of Women, Family & Community Development, YB Datuk Seri Rina Harun, to discuss the need to review the Anti-Sexual Harassment Bill 2021 before the second reading.

In light of current gaps in the Bill, we highlighted the opportunity to utilise available parliamentary processes to address our concerns, specifically the Parliamentary Special Select Committee on Women and Children Affairs and Social Development (PSSC). The PSSC has the power to substantively review and reconsider the areas omitted from the Bill as highlighted in our Memorandum, and provide necessary recommendations prior to the second reading.