WOMEN IN CRISIS NEED GREATER VOICE, SAYS MINISTER

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 29 (Bernama) -- Women in crisis need to be given a greater
voice as hundreds of millions of them were displaced as a result of natural
disasters and civil unrest, said Women, Family and Community Development
Minister Shahrizat Abdul Jalil.

She said women from affected communities should be engaged in decision making
that would affect their lives.

To do this, she added, the people must advocate for change in the mindset and
behaviour.

"We cannot continue to believe that women are passive beneficiaries (for
aid)...failure to engage them diminishes the quality and efficiency of the aid
provided," said Shahrizat.

She was speaking at a press conference after delivering the keynote speech at
the inaugural NAM (Non-Aligned Movement) Institute for the Empowerment of Women
(NIEW) International Conference for the Health and Well-being of Displaced Women
here Monday.

She said the lives of women were still brutally torn apart by violence and
abuse although the world was transformed by amazing developments in technology
and medicine, with all advantages of hindsight.

Shahrizat hoped the conference would come up with a framework for submission to
the United Nations to offer aid and voice for the displaced woman.

The two-day conference will, among others, identify critical problems affecting
displaced women, ensure a better understanding of the complexity of displacement
and identify gaps in healthcare, livelihood and treament of displaced women.

About 400 participants from 13 countries, including Thailand, United States,
Africa, United Kingdom, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Australia, India and Malaysia are
attending the conference.
-- BERNAMA