Change cultural mindset

I REFER to the report “It’s time for us to Act” ( The Star, Jan 27th), calling for the enactment of a Sexual Harassment Act in the country.

As a member of the National Youth Consultative Council (MPBN), I tabled a proposal for such an Act last December at the council’s second meeting. The MPBN, which is gazetted under the Youth Organisation and Development Act 2007, is chaired by the Minister of Youth and Sports, to provide the highest-level platform for youth representatives to raise and debate national issues.

The Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development has acknowledged the legislation gap and is championing this cause. So what is the challenge in enacting a Sexual Harassment Act?

Association of Women Lawyers president Tham Hui Ying said in the news report: “There is a real need for both legal reform and cultural change, to ensure sexual harassment is properly addressed.”

“Cultural change” is what we desperately need now. We need to first raise more awareness about sexual harassment. As a young female worker and after listening to the encounters of other women, I realised that many could even be unaware that certain behaviour and actions qualify as sexual harassment. How do we pursue cultural change? For a start, those who organise activities that involve groups can incorporate briefings on sexual harassment in the orientation or introduction. Beyond the workplace, this applies to organisers of training programmes, events, tour groups and even school camps. Participants such as yourself or the parents should advocate for this requirement. That way, both men and women will be aware of what constitutes sexual harassment and how to respond should it happen.

Another challenge is to raise awareness among our country leaders who are the policymakers and decision makers.

There are many accounts of women being sexually harassed by politicians – this could even happen in parliament! What an irony for lawmakers to behave indecently where laws are supposedly made.

Back at the MPBN meeting, I am pleased that YB Khairy Jamaluddin, who chaired the MPBN in his capacity as Minister of Youth and Sports, promised us to raise this issue to the Cabinet.

Meanwhile let us not just sit back and wait for the Act. Each of us can surely do something in our respective capacities to make the change we want to see.

LYDIA HONG WEN XIN National Youth Consultative Council Member