On 30 September 2025, Women’s Empowerment in Malaysia reached a significant milestone in the nation’s pursuit of gender equality with the official launch of its book 30 Tahun CEDAW Malaysia and the Forum Agenda Wanita Negara (FAWN) 2025. The event, held at Berjaya Times Square, was officiated by the Minister of Women, Family, and Community Development, YB Dato’ Sri Hajah Nancy Shukri, who graced the occasion as the guest of honour and delivered the keynote address.
Her words were unflinching: “Hak wanita adalah hak asasi manusia dan perjuangan ini tidak boleh dihentikan.” That reminder framed the event as both a celebration of progress and a reckoning with unfinished battles.
Women’s Empowerment as National Strength
FAWN 2025 was positioned not as another conference that ends in polite applause, but as a platform to breathe life into policy. The newly launched Dasar Wanita Negara (DWN) and Pelan Tindakan Pembangunan Wanita 2025-2030 are meant to shape real change, not sit idle in archives. Policymakers, NGOs, academics, and industry leaders gathered to debate and share responsibility across sectors.
Sessions ranged from “Bicara Inspirasi CEO,” spotlighting female leadership and entrepreneurship, to a raw “Diskusi Pascaperceraian” that confronted child alimony and post-divorce struggles. These were not symbolic discussions but reflections of daily realities faced by women in workplaces, courts, and homes.
Nancy Shukri also highlighted the Program Perantisan Kepimpinan Wanita (PERANTIS), a mentorship initiative pairing young women with national leaders. “This will be the stepping stone for more women to take their place in the country’s leadership,” she said. The program marks a shift from awareness to pipeline, training women not just to participate, but to lead.
Thirty Years in CEDAW: Milestones and Meaning
This year marks three decades since Malaysia ratified the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) in 1995. The commemorative book launched alongside FAWN chronicles that journey, from tentative beginnings to reforms that now anchor women’s rights in law.
The minister highlighted five milestones:
- Amendments to the Employment Act 1955, strengthening workplace protections.
- Enforcement of the Anti-Sexual Harassment Act 2022 and creation of the Sexual Harassment Tribunal (TAGS).
- Appointment of Gender Focal Points and Teams in every ministry.
- A minimum of 30% women in decision-making roles.
- Women surpassed parity in education, with a Sub-Index score of 1.071 in 2023.
Yet Nancy reminded the hall, “What we celebrate today is not the full stop. Gender equality is not an empty slogan; it must be translated into laws, policies and most importantly, the daily lives of every woman in Malaysia.”
The Bigger Picture: Numbers That Still Matter
Despite these gains, gaps remain. Women hold only 16.1% of ministerial posts and 13.5% of parliamentary seats. In defense, female participation lags at 8%, with a target of 10% by 2030. Nearly 30% of divorce cases in Syariah courts involve failure of child alimony, a stark reminder that laws alone cannot shield women from inequality.
This is why the government’s target of 60% female labor force participation, tied to the Madani Economic Framework, is so ambitious. It demands not just numbers but structural change, rethinking workplaces, addressing childcare, and challenging cultural assumptions.
Policy Meets Symbolism
The symbolism of a 30-year CEDAW commemoration matters, but symbolism without action is fragile. What distinguishes this milestone is how the ministry tied reflection to strategy. The DWN and its 2025-2030 plan outline 26 strategies, 75 programs, and 182 activities across four domains: economy, leadership, security, and well-being.
The slogan “Memartabat Wanita, Memperkukuh Negara” is more than a tagline. As Nancy put it, “When women are empowered, the nation’s foundation is strengthened.” It is a call for a whole-of-nation approach, embedding gender equality into the country’s DNA.
Coverage Beyond the Ballroom
FAWN was attended by deputy ministers, government officials, SUHAKAM representatives, NGOs, and academics, reflecting the reality that gender equality is not a women-only issue, but a societal one.
From CEO dialogues on women in STEM to candid conversations on divorce resilience, the program acknowledged both aspiration and hardship. The simultaneous launch of the CEDAW book ensured the event looked both backward and forward, a bridge between past struggles and future commitments.
A Long Road, but a Clearer One
The CEDAW book, with stories of leaders like Puan Mary Shanthi Dairiam, who represented Malaysia internationally, is more than a retrospective. It is a ledger of accountability, documenting how far the nation has come and how much further it must go.
Three decades ago, Malaysia’s commitment to CEDAW was tentative. Today, it is institutional. Yet as Nancy reminded, “Kesaksamaan gender bukan slogan kosong, ia mesti diterjemahkan ke dalam dasar, undang-undang, peluang pekerjaan dan kehidupan harian setiap wanita Malaysia.”
The message is unmistakable: women’s empowerment is no longer side advocacy; it is national policy. Thirty years on, the road to gender equality is still long, but for once, it feels mapped.
Lim Su Yee (michellelimsuyee@gmail.com) is a content creator under the Newswav Creator programme, where you get to express yourself, be a citizen journalist, and at the same time monetize your content & reach millions of users on Newswav. Log in to creator.newswav.com and become a Newswav Creator now!
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