Germany, Malaysia Can Do More To Increase Women’s participation in Public Offices - Ambassador

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 14 (Bernama) -- Malaysia and Germany are still facing challenges in achieving gender equality in leadership positions, particularly in public offices. 

Germany’s Ambassador to Malaysia, Dr. Peter Blomeyer, said factors such as prejudices, traditional gender roles, and competitive mindsets continue to hinder women’s full participation in public life. 

“We still have a long way to go in changing mindsets, both in Germany and Malaysia, to make it  irrelevant whether a man or a woman assumes a position,” he said.

Blomeyer made this remark in his welcoming speech at the “Political Participation in Malaysia: Towards Equal Access For Women To Political Mandates In Parliament And State Assemblies” conference organised by Germany Embassy, here, on Thursday.  

“This conference is on how we can change that, how men can be motivated to welcome women in public life in Malaysia and how women can be motivated to enter public life,” he added. 

Speaking to Bernama, Blomeyer said women’s participation in politic is an urgent issue that needs to be addressed, adding that he hopes the conference will yield constructive ideas and suggestions to improve the situation.

Women leaders, including Deputy Communications Minister Teo Nie Ching, representatives from political parties and non-governmental organisations, academicians and media practitioners were among the 70 participants who attended the conference. 

Deputy Head of Mission of the Embassy, Ulrike Wolf, said the embassy has always supported women empowerment programmes in Malaysia, and this is the first time such conference has been organised.

-- BERNAMA