Poverty is a gender issue

IN conjunction with the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty yesterday, themed “Ensuring Respect and Effective Support for Families”, the Women’s Aid Organisation (WAO) is calling on the Malaysian government to strengthen policies that support family well-being by placing an emphasis on economic and social justice for women.

This year’s theme resonates strongly with the reality in Malaysia. Families living in poverty often face economic constraints, systems and policies that do not favour them. Many women, especially single mothers and low-income women workers, are the backbone of their families while bearing the heavy burden of low wages, unpaid care responsibilities and lack of institutional support.