Women’s full and meaningful participation and representation are fundamental elements of a vibrant, effective and efficient democracy and is essential to the achievement of sustainable development. Democracy cannot truly deliver for all of its citizens if half of the population remains underrepresented in the political arena. Although comprising almost half of the country’s population, women continue to be under-represented as voters, political leaders , elected officials and decsion makers. As a direct impact from gender inequality and the barriers women face in politics and leadership, we are losing the opportunity of having good women leaders and as a result, our policies, people and country are impacted. This is why it is so important to actively promote women’s political participation, including through institutional reform and affirmative measures, as appropriate

11%

MEMBER OF MALAYSIA PARLIAMENT

15%

OF ADUNS PENANG

WOMEN’S PARTICIPATION IN PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTORS IN MALAYSIA

15%

OF CORPORATE SERVICES

33%

OF PUBLIC SERVICES

5%

OF JKKK CHAIRPERSONS

The Women in Local Governance Leadership Training is an annual training to train potential women leaders for local government and covers substantive and practical skills. As of 2016, we have trained a total of 87 participants in which 6 have been elected as Local Councillors (Ahli Majlis) for MBPP and MPSP. The leadership training also includes an interactive networking session with current state & local government leaders

Briged Wanita Pulau Pinang (BWPP) by the Penang State Government, is a voluntary body tasked with mobilising and reaching out to women from all walks of life and locations across Penang to connect them with state programmes and aid. PWDC recently launched the TAMPIL 2.0 Programm, a grassroots women’s empowerment program which aims to raise awareness on gender equality, stregthen grassroots women’s capacities and leadership

Grassroots women, the “Everyday Life Experts”, are some of the best people to contribute to creating reselient, healthy and nurturing communities. Investing in grassroots women is key to fostering sustainable development. PWDC, through our Grassroots Women’s Leadership Programme aims to provide the opportunity for women to engage, contribute and empower themselves and their communities while stregthening women’s leadership in the state

To ensure that women are given equal opportunities in political representation, it is critical that we review the impact of the current electoral system on women’s political representation – from candidacy to election results. PWDC and the Penang State Government, in collaboration with Penang Institute and Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES International), will be organising a National Conference on Gender and Electoral Reform on 26 & 27 August 2016