By Wan Muhammad Aslah Wan Razali
KUALA LUMPUR, March 13 (Bernama) -- The Embassy of the Netherlands in Kuala Lumpur gathered experts and advocates to explore the evolving role of women in the digital and technological landscape, addressing both challenges and opportunities in an era of rapid transformation.
Titled “Orange Talk – Women Empowerment: Breaking Barriers in the Digital Age”, the event brought together over 50 participants for a dynamic panel discussion featuring thought leaders from diverse fields.
The dialogue acknowledged the pressing need to advance gender equality, particularly in technology and media, while highlighting innovative initiatives driving progress.
Netherlands Ambassador to Malaysia, Jacques Werner, emphasised the importance of recognising the role of women across industries and cultures.
“As we recently celebrated International Women’s Day, we must continue to focus on the contributions of women. The Netherlands pursues an open, innovative, and inclusive society with a feminist foreign policy because when women succeed, economies thrive,” he said during the event's networking session.
He acknowledged that many challenges faced by women stem from deep-rooted biases and legal frameworks that fail to support gender equality.
“These issues were brought to the fore today, and it is crucial for men, especially those in decision-making positions, to acknowledge these inequalities and act upon them,” he added.
Werner also highlighted the innovative potential of women, stressing that greater inclusion in the workforce could help address talent shortages and ensure that contributions are judged on merit.
“Across ASEAN, the European Union, and the world, gender inequality remains a global challenge. This is not a region-specific issue, but a universal one that requires continuous effort and collaboration,” he stated.
The panel discussion featured Women Tech Malaysia’s Country Director and APAC Director Yuki Aizawa, Centre for Independent Journalism Executive Director Wathshlah Naidu, and Kemban Kolektif Collaborative Consultant Adila Ali, moderated by Epic Angles Malaysia Community Manager Elena Kersey.
The discussion focused on the persistent struggles women face, particularly in areas such as reproductive rights, gender identity, and media representation.
The panelists highlighted the increasing backlash against fundamental rights, including contraception, safe abortion, and gender equality. They underscored the need to reclaim spaces through community-driven media and advocacy efforts.
Despite these challenges, the panel expressed optimism about the potential of technology and social media in advancing gender equality. They examined the intersection of technology, gender equity, and media representation in Malaysia, covering several critical areas.
Aizawa discussed initiatives such as Pay Gap Malaysia, which helps women negotiate fair salaries, while alternative credit assessment models are being explored to support women entrepreneurs who struggle with traditional financial systems.
Adila highlighted initiatives like the Tambunan Ginger Project in Sabah, a self-sustaining agronomic model designed to provide financial independence to women through e-commerce.
Wathshlah touched on how male investors often misunderstand women’s healthcare needs, leading to funding inequalities.
She noted that women’s voices remain significantly underrepresented in Malaysian media, with a recent review showing that quoted sources were predominantly male.
She also pointed out that AI models trained on biased datasets reinforce gender imbalances, while online violence and misinformation disproportionately affect women journalists, politicians, and activists.
Increasing women’s inclusion in leadership and media is crucial to ensuring fair representation, alongside the need to enhance digital literacy and protections against online gender-based violence.
The event concluded with a collective call to action, emphasising the need to dismantle systemic barriers and leverage technology to accelerate gender equality.
-- BERNAMA
