Women politicians reach across party lines to agree on Domestic Violence

Petaling Jaya – Amidst daily strife of divisive language, political rivalry and imagined enemies, WAO is delighted that four women politicians have led the way to come together to agree that there is #NoExcuseForAbuse.  

 YB Hajah Nancy Shukri, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, YB Hannah Yeoh, Selangor Assembly Speaker, YB Nurul Izzah, MP for Lembah Pantai and YB Mas Ermieyati Samsudin, Puteri UMNO Chief join WAO’s International Women’s Day campaign #NoExcuseForAbuse to raise awareness on the early signs of domestic violence.

Commenting on the rationale for the campaign, Ivy Josiah, Executive Director of Women’s Aid Organisation said, “It is not uncommon that our first response to domestic violence is denial. A woman is shocked when her husband or intimate partner becomes violent and seeks to justify and minimise the behavior. She feels guilt and negates the fear and anger hoping that he will change, wanting to preserve the relationship. However without early intervention, domestic violence will not stop.

“It is crucial we learn to identify the signs of abuse that may escalate to dangerous levels if left alone. In the 32 years of our services for abused women and their children, WAO has learnt that domestic violence starts with verbal abuse, making threats, breaking objects, blaming and arguing and moves to pushing, grabbing, shoving, choking, hitting, threats and even causing permanent injury and death. Early intervention can force a batterer to confront his behavior and choose to accept responsibility and adopt respectful behaviors towards the women in his life.”

The campaign also launches the installation art exhibition portraying the voices of victim survivors. The installation art is a display of blouses with hand-stitched words. Each blouse features a thought that a survivor had told to herself when she endured abuse. The installation art will be displayed in Publika from 8 – 17 March 2014 and Hero Market at Sri Damansara and Kampung Baru, Puchong from 22 – 31 March 2014. It will be brought to East Coast and East Malaysia in the future.

“We believe that violence can be stopped; it is a learned behavior that can be unlearned. We congratulate these women leaders who have led the way to speak up and reach out to women and their children while condemning abusive behavior,” Ivy continued.

The #NoExcuseForAbuse campaign is supported by the Embassy of the United States of America Kuala Lumpur, TBWA Kuala Lumpur, Studio DL, Publika and Hero Market.