The Women & Inclusive Politics Forum Series: State Assemblies & Additional Seats for Women is an inaugural forum in conjunction with the International Women’s Day 2017 organized by Penang Women’s Development Corporation (PWDC) in collaboration with Penang Institute. You are cordially invited to attend this forum as scheduled below:-
Date : 31 March 2017 (Friday)
Time : 8.00pm – 10.00 (Registration start at 7.30pm)
Venue : Jen Hotel, Jalan Magazine, George Town, Penang
DESCRIPTION
The World Economic Forum predicts that the gender gap will not close entirely until 2186. At 106 out of 144 countries, Malaysia’s 2016 Global Gender Gap Index indicates that the biggest inequalities exist in terms of women’s political empowerment.
Last August, a groundbreaking public conversation on women’s representation in elected office began in Penang. Exploring alternative solutions to systemic barriers, the National Conference on Gender & Electoral Reform: Making A Difference, resulted in close to 200 political leaders, policymakers, activists and scholars from across the country endorsing the recommendation, among others, that State Legislative Assemblies put into place additional women-only, non-constituency seats.
Would this work in Penang? Why, or why not?What other measures could or need to be put into place to create a more diverse and inclusive State Legislative Assembly? The purpose of this forum is to explore and debate these and other related questions in detail, and to formulate some concrete steps forward towards implementation.
PWDC & Penang Institute is proud to bring you this inaugural event of our Women in Politics Forum Series. Focusing on governance issues, we aim to catalyse meaningful change in public and private spheres.
PANELISTS:
YB Puan Chong Eng, Penang State Exco for Women, Family and Community Development
YB Zuraida Kamaruddin, Member of Parliament for Ampang
YB Dr Siti Mariah Mahmud, Member of Parliament for Kota Raja
MODERATOR:
Dr Wong Chin Huat, Head of Political and Social Analysis and Fellow, Penang Institute
SPECIAL EVENT:
Launch of PWDC’s Advocacy Handbook on Gender Electoral Reform
TENTATIVE PROGRAMME
7.30 pm – Registration and networking (coffee and tea served)
8.00pm – Official Opening of Forum by The Right Honourable Chief Minister of Penang
and Launch of Advocacy Handbook
8.30 pm – Introduction by Moderator
8.45 pm – Forum Discussion and Q&A
10.00pm – Closing and Launch of Advocacy Handbook
FREE ADMISSION! As places are limited for walk-in participants, please contact Fuziah Abdul Rahim of Penang Women’s Development Corporation (PWDC) at pwdcsecretariatger@gmail.com and 04 261 2835 for enquiries and registration. You may also register your interest at this link.