This Press Release was originally distributed via UNFPA Malaysia's Channels. Read the original here
Putrajaya, 6 March – The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Malaysia and the United Nations University International Institute for Global Health (UNU-IIGH) hosted a report dissemination event of their joint publication titled “Portraits: Journeys of Gender-Based Violence Survivors across Malaysia’s One Stop Crisis Centres”.
The event was officiated by YB Yeo Bee Yin, MP for Puchong and Chairperson of Parliament Special Select Committee for Women, Children and Community Development in the presence of invited guests from government, academia and civil society.
The report documents the experiences of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) survivors across One-Stop Crisis Centres (OSCCs) across public hospitals in Malaysia with the aim of bridging the gap between policy intentions and service delivery outcomes.
First launched at the Kuala Lumpur General Hospital in 1994, OSCCs were designed and integrated within the health system to provide round-the-clock comprehensive and coordinated services to GBV survivors, from health-related services such as medical examinations and physical and psychological treatments, to non-health services such as police and legal support, social support, and referrals to shelter homes.
UNFPA and UNU-IIGH’s joint report examines the strengths and gaps in Malaysia’s OSCC service delivery, drawing on in-depth interviews with GBV survivors and key civil society stakeholders in the field. Through the development of detailed ‘personas’ synthesising the experiences of a range of GBV survivors, primarily women from different ethnicities and backgrounds, the report traces survivors’ journeys through the OSCC system, highlighting the structural and societal barriers they face while identifying potential areas for GBV response improvement.
The study concludes with a strong recommendation for comprehensive policy reforms and improvements in both national legal and healthcare frameworks to better address GBV in Malaysia, and ensure a safer, more supportive environment for all individuals, regardless of their background.
In her welcoming remarks, Dr Julitta Onabanjo, UNFPA Country Representative for Malaysia lauded Malaysia for being one of the global pioneers of this OSCC model of responding to GBV.
She called for attention to the report findings and recommendations to further enhance the model.
“By centering the lived experiences of survivors, the findings and recommendations of this report provide an important reference point for enhancing One-Stop Crisis Centres. We acknowledge the challenges of coordinating a multi-sectoral response to gender-based violence, and we acknowledge the tireless work of the Ministry of Health to ensure a survivor-centred approach through these centres. We look forward to working with all parties to strengthen our response to end gender-based violence once and for all.”
In YB Yeo Bee Yin’s keynote address, she regretted the scourge of gender-based violence on society.
“Today we are faced with a problem - the hand that is supposed to protect you and to love you and to touch you, is used to abuse you.”
She spoke from her experience visiting OSCCs in her capacity as the chairperson of the Parliament Special Select Committee on Women, Children and Community Development.
“If we can actually make the infrastructure, the processes better, it is going to change lives. The lives that we change are those who most need it.”
YB Yeo called for all parties to work together to improve OSCCs.
“Improving One-Stop Crisis Centres is something that involves the government, the private sector, social workers, the grassroots, members of the public and the wider society”
A presentation of the report and its key findings was given by Dr Claudia Abreu Lopes, report author and Research Lead from the United Nations University International Institute for Global Health (UNU-IIGH).
This was followed by a panel session with panellists from UNU-IIGH (Research Lead Dr Claudia Abreu Lopes), the Ministry of Health (Emergency Consultant Dr Siti Suhaila Hamzah), the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development (Undersecretary Asmar Asmadi Abdullah Sani) and the Women’s Centre for Change Penang (Service Manager Ooi Say Tee).
The session was moderated by UNFPA Malaysia Assistant Representative YM Tengku Aira Tengku Razif.
The panel session discussed panelists’ experience with supporting Gender-Based Violence survivors and navigating the OSCC system, and explored pathways forward to incorporating inclusive and intersectional approaches to strengthen Malaysia’s multisectoral GBV response with the goal of ensuring no one gets left behind.
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“Portraits: Journeys of Gender-Based Violence Survivors across Malaysia’s One Stop Crisis Centres” is available for download here.
ABOUT UNFPA
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) is the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency. It aims to deliver a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe, and every young person's potential is fulfilled. Please visit https://malaysia.unfpa.org for further information.
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