Penan child (© Robin Hanbury-Tenison/Survival, pic courtesy of Survival International) DATUK Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil was the perfect picture of concern and care on the front page of The Star newspaper on 28 May 2009. The newly re-appointed women, family and community development minister was photographed at the Serdang Hospital with a five-year-old child who [...]

PETALING JAYA, 27 May 2009: The task force report on sexual violence against Penan girls and women must be made public and not just disclosed partially, two women’s groups said today. “It is imperative that the government makes public the Penan task force report,” Women’s Aid Organisation (WAO) executive director Ivy Josiah told The Nut [...]

Updated 5.20pm on 26 May 2009 KUALA LUMPUR, 26 May 2009: It remains unclear if the 2008 government-led task force report about sexual violence against Penan women and girls will be made public. Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil said the report has reached her desk and was ready for [...]

PETALING JAYA, 19 May 2009: It has been almost six months since the Penan task force completed its investigations into allegations of sexual abuse against women in its community. Yet, the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry continues to keep mum about when the 2008 Penan task force report will be released. Repeated calls by [...]

PETALING JAYA, 20 April 2009: Women’s and indigenous peoples’ advocacy groups are urging new Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil to release the findings of the 2008 Penan task force. A Penan woman (All pics by Tajai @ Flickr) The task force was commissioned by the ministry under former minister [...]

KANGAR, 28 March 2009: Two new policies are being legislated to safeguard the welfare of children and ensure protection from neglect, abuse, violence and exploitation. Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen said her Ministry was in the final state of preparing the National Child Action Policy and the National [...]