In a statement yesterday, she said Iceland was at the forefront of the push for gender equality due to the strong political will of its people to ensure that government policies are executed and projects given adequate funding.
Iceland has topped the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Index for nine years in a row. It started 2018 with a new law making it illegal for companies to pay men higher wages than women.
Kasthuri, the publicity secretary for DAP’s women’s wing, said Malaysia lacked the will and sincerity to do likewise, citing the appointment of Prime Minister Najib Razak as chairman of an advisory council of a new government body tasked with empowering women in the corporate sector.
The Women’s Innovation Academy (MyWin) advisory council’s deputy chairman meanwhile is Lim Kok Wing.
Kasthuri said it was a shame that neither the chairman nor the deputy chairman of the advisory council were women, as MyWIN was to boost women’s participation in decision-making arenas.
She said Najib should have “rightfully proposed” that a capable woman hold the posts, adding that this showed the prime minister did not practise what he preached.
She said over the past 10 years, women elected representatives in Parliament and state assemblies, and women representing civil society had been pushing for women’s empowerment and gender equality.
This includes equal pay between men and women, children’s healthcare, protection for children, fighting sexual and domestic violence against women and children, ending child marriages, education for all irrespective of race or gender, and ending discrimination and corruption.
Unlike Penang and Selangor, she said, the federal government had failed to execute such policies, initiatives and projects.
She said Penang was the first state in Malaysia to form a think tank within the state government, known as the Penang Women’s Development Corporation.
This was followed by Selangor with its Institut Wanita Berdaya. Both agencies formulate policies and proposals to improve the quality of life for women, children and families.
“These Pakatan Harapan governments proved that we walk the talk when we invested our energy, finances and drive to assist mothers from all layers of society and women and mothers in the workplace, to promote affordable childcare, to advocate gender equality and gender responsive budgeting, to offer healthcare subsidies for mammogram screenings, grants for small businesses by skilled women, and a platform for women from all walks of life to be seen, heard and noticed.
“When women are empowered and supported, they influence their families and society which directly serves as a catalyst in nation building.”