It is well-known that economic empowerment is absolutely crucial, as it increases women’s access to economic resources and opportunities including jobs, financial services, property and other productive assets, skill development and market information. Women can attain their greatest potential when they live in a safe, joyful, and productive environment. They can contribute their abilities to the workforce while also raising happier and healthier kids. They can also contribute to the development of sustainable economies, as well as benefit society and mankind as a whole.

Since the advent of the Covid pandemic in 2020, gender-based violence against women, particularly domestic abuse, has seen a significant increase. More women than ever are experiencing some form of mental and physical abuse at the hands of their loved ones. Based on the statistics provided by All Women’s Action Society (AWAM), domestic violence has been all-time high in terms of numbers.

In a 2021 survey of 275 respondents, AWAM’s findings showed that the predominant sites of sexual harassment and bullying were primary, secondary, and boarding schools. The Joint Action Group for Gender Equality (JAG) has urged the Ministry of Education (MoE) to be more transparent in investigations on period spot checks and sexual harassment in schools. It is abundantly clear that there is a pressing and urgent need to address the issue of sexual harassment against girls in our country in order to prioritise their safety and welfare.

Reproductive Rights Advocacy Alliance Malaysia (RRAAM) found that the rate of teenage pregnancies between 2019-2020 are prevalently high with a baby being dumped every 3 days. The root cause of this social phenomenon is the lack of access to verified information related to sexual and reproductive health due to social stigma.