JPW Steps Up Efforts To Address Violence Against Women Through Ongoing Programmes

BUKIT MERTAJAM, Oct 20 (Bernama) -- The Department of Women’s Development (JPW) is stepping up efforts to address violence against women through advocacy programmes, early intervention and recovery support to raise public awareness and help victims obtain protection and rebuild their lives.

Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri said the efforts were being carried out in phases and on an ongoing basis through the Well-being Advocacy Programme for Women@Domestic Violence (Aku Wanita@KRT), the Santun Kasih Pemandiri@Domestic Violence (SARI@KRT), and the Road to Eliminate Violence Against Women (EVAW) programme.

She said the approach not only raised awareness of various forms of violence but also provided victims with a platform to share their experiences, obtain legal information and access assistance to help them regain their independence.

“Through programmes like these, we want victims to be able to rebuild their lives, including economically, so that they can become independent and support their families.

“We also seek to empower them legally, including by explaining the actions they can take and the assistance available,” she told reporters after officiating the EVAW programme in conjunction with the Penang-level Eliminate Violence Against Women programme here today.

The programme, organised by JPW through the Penang Women’s Development Office (PPWN), was attended by 260 participants.

Also present were Deputy Women, Family and Community Development Minister Lim Hui Ying, the ministry’s secretary-general Datuk Dr Maziah Che Yusoff, and JPW director-general Hanani Sapit.

Nancy said the Aku Wanita@KRT programme had reached 4,899 participants, while 322 individuals had received support through K-Chat psychological intervention sessions as of Sept 26.

She said the achievement demonstrated the effectiveness of a community-based approach that provided opportunities for direct interaction to raise awareness and boost public confidence in seeking assistance.

She said domestic violence involved not only physical abuse and verbal abuse but also economic abuse, financial control, social isolation and threats made through digital platforms.

Commenting on domestic violence statistics, Nancy said 5,278 cases had been reported nationwide as of August, compared with 5,041 cases during the same period last year, while Penang recorded 228 cases during the period.

She said the increase in reported cases did not necessarily reflect an increase in incidents alone, but could also indicate greater public awareness and victims’ growing willingness to come forward to seek help.

“Domestic violence also affects children who witness or hear such incidents, particularly in terms of their emotional well-being, concentration in learning and sense of security. They also risk inheriting unhealthy behavioural patterns as adults,” she said.

In this regard, she said the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development (KPWKM), through JPW, also implemented the Women’s Psychological Resilience (MATAHARI), Legal and Rights Literacy Programme for Women (IRIS), and Skuad Waja as a community support network to empower women and help them obtain assistance.

She said the Referral, Intervention, Support, Information and Advocacy for Women (PRISMAnita) also served as an initial channel for information, preliminary screening, advice, psychosocial support and referrals to the relevant agencies or specialists.

She added that violence and harassment were increasingly occurring in digital spaces, including through threats, stalking and the distribution of private content to control victims or coerce them into doing things against their will.

Earlier, Nancy said KPWKM had allocated about RM1 million this year to assist women facing financial difficulties, including domestic violence victims who needed to leave their partners and bring their children with them.

-- BERNAMA