Dr Wan Azizah (right) launches the Creative Video Contest themed ‘Hentikan! Stop It!’ flanked by her deputy Hannah Yeoh (left) and chief secretary Datuk Junaidah Kamaruddin. — Bernama photo
PUTRAJAYA: The Women, Family and Community Development Ministry (KPWKM) has launched its Creative Video Contest themed ‘Hentikan! Stop It!’ and also its Survey on Sexual Harassment as part of its advocacy and public-input collection initiatives.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail said the two initiatives aimed to get the people from all walks of life to play a more active role by giving their input in the formulation of policies and the implementation of government programmes in addressing sexual harassment issues.
“Efforts to stop any form of violence against women or men, including sexual harassment, need support and cooperation from all quarters, especially in enhancing public awareness on any form of gender-based violence,” she told a press conference after launching the video contest and the survey here yesterday.
Dr Wan Azizah, who is also KPWKM Minister, said there is still a stigma among victims that justice would never be served and that they were the ones who would be blamed by the society in any case of sexual crimes.
Between January and June this year, 711 cases related to sexual crimes were reported under Section 354, Section 377D, Section 377E and Section 509 of the Penal Code.
However, Dr Wan Azizah said she believed there were many more cases that went unreported.
Hence, she said through the Creative Video Contest, which is open to all Malaysians from yesterday until Oct 5, the ministry hoped that members of the public would understand how they could play a more active role in preventing any form of violence, including sexual harassment.
“We hope the contest will inspire the people, especially the young ones, to challenge themselves and help improve public awareness on sexual harassment effectively,” she said.
More information on the Creative Video Contest is available at KPWKM’s and the Women Development Department’s (JPW) websites.
The online Survey on Sexual Harassment, on the other hand, which also began yesterday will be on until Sept 5 and the public is welcome to participate by answering the questionnaire at www.kpwkm.gov.my and www.jpw.gov.my or via the KPWKM and JPW social networking sites. — Bernama