The constitutional amendment to end discrimination based on gender is merely one step in the larger framework of advocacy towards the realisation of women's rights, according to a leading women's organisation today.

The All Women's Action Society of Malaysia (Awam) in its press statement welcomed the government's announcement yesterday to amend Article 8 (2) of the Federal Constitution to incorporate the word 'sex' as a basis against discrimination.

However, Awam reminded the government to continuously improve the country's laws and policies until such time when women's rights become a reality for all women in Malaysia.

It said the absence of the term 'sex' in Article 8 (2) has been to the detriment of Malaysian women.

"Among other things, the Constitution's silence on this matter has condoned the continuation of beliefs and practices that relegate women as second-class citizens in our country," it said.

Awam believes that one of the root causes of violence against women lies in the lack of respect for women as perpetuated by the Federal Constitution as it currently stands.

Eschewing a similar sentiment, human rights group Aliran executive committee member Dr Prema Devaraj said, "With this amendment, other archaic and discriminatory laws and procedures that severely restrict the rights of women can now also be challenged and changed, including the citizenship-related laws and the Immigration Act 1963."

Prema added that the advocacy for change in the remaining discriminatory laws and procedures, in the institutions that formulated these laws and in the people who implement these laws must continue.

"It would be naive to conclude that the mere inclusion of the word "sex" in Article 8 (2) of the Federal Constitution will bring about gender equality without a mindset that focuses on justice," she said.

'Act of discrimination'

Meanwhile, Women's Aid Organisation (WAO) president Meera Samanther said the constitutional amendment will authoritatively protect women's rights since the Federal Constitution is the supreme law of the country and any law passed has to be consistent with its provisions.

"With this, it is hoped that other laws that currently discriminate against women will be revised in congruence with the amending of the Constitution," Meera said, citing as examples, laws on citizenship, family, domestic violence, foreign domestic workers, rape and sexual harassment.

"The government needs to develop holistic multi-disciplinary strategies to prevent and eliminate all forms of discrimination against women. Therefore, it is critical that legislations, policies and attitudes reiterate that women and men are equal in all spheres of life; the private, the economic, the social, the political and the cultural," she added.

The Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) also welcomed the amendment.

It hoped the government will consider its recommendation in its annual report that "an act of discrimination be defined as any action which has the effect (and not just the intention) of discriminating on the basis of sex".

Suhakam also urged the government to take steps to incorporate the amended constitutional principle into all domestic laws and mechanisms.