Violence against women: 18,000 cases recorded from 2010-2016 in Pahang
KUANTAN: Nearly 18,000 cases of violence against women have been recorded in Pahang from 2010 to 2016.
State Women and Family Development, Communication and Multimedia Committee chairman Datuk Shahaniza Shamsuddin said the state government has taken the initiative to raise awareness about violence against women, among others involving rape, obscenity, incest and unnatural sexual behaviour.
"Among the initiatives undertaken are campaigns to educate women on legal literacy so they know their rights and the actions that can be taken if they become victims and to teach them how to safeguard themselves," she told reporters here today.
Shahaniza said this after launching the Pahang pre-Women's Day celebration at the Urban Transformation Centre (UTC), where she placed a marker on a special counter for women at several government agencies in the area.
Among the agencies we the Pilgrims Fund Board, Employees Provident Fund (EPF), the Post Office and the Immigration Department.
She said the awareness campaign on violence against women did not focus on adult women alone but university and school students too as they were also at risk of becoming victims.
Shahaniza said the Pahang government had also set up a special portal, Pahang Cakna.Com, that could serve as a platform for complaints regarding sexual harassment crimes.
"The portal was launched by the Prime Minister's wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor. We understand that some of the victims or individuals who are affected or know about the violence are afraid or embarrassed to lodge complaints as they fear their identities will become known to the perpetrators.
"The portal is the best medium for them to file complaints for further action," she said.
Shahaniza also called for single mothers in Pahang to register with the State Women's Development Office to empower the group, including by attending courses that can help them increase their income.
"So far, 22,726 individuals have registered, but we still think that there are still many single mothers in the state who have not registered and it is estimated that each district may have 2,000 to 3,000 single mothers," she said. — Bernama