Community Development Essay Example for Free

Community discipline EssayAchieving gender equality and empowering women are necessary to achieve social, economic and political development. Today, girls and women continue to benefit from health and raising services with women surpassing men in enrolment and academic achievements in many situations. Women in Malaysia are also more actively involved today in politics and numerous other topic initiatives. Malaysias commitment and dedication to the approach of women is evident in many of its programs and policies in the last ii decades.In 1985, the government activity of Malaysia formulated the issue Policy on Women as a guide for womens participation in the development process. The Policy helps call forth womens quality of life by overcoming challenges through poverty eradication and education. The stature of women became a primary objective of the 6th Malaysia Plan (1991 1995), where a extra fund for the development of women became a significant and integral step tow ards empowering women in Malaysia. Subsequent Malaysia Plans continue to focus on the needs of women with recommendations to advance their position in society.By agreeing to the commitments set forth in the Beijing Platform for Action at the UN Fourth World Conference on Women (1995), the judicature promised to 1) enhance the national machinery for womens advancement 2) increase womens participation in decision-making 3) safeguard womens rights to health, education and social well being and 4) remove legal obstacles and gender discriminatory practices. In 1995, the Government also ratified the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women(CEDAW). In 2001, the Government created the Ministry of Women and Family Development with a mandate to address issues on women and shake up the stature of women in the country.Malaysias Constitution was amended in August 2001 to prohibit discrimination in any law on the basis of gender. The Government continues to play a crucial and supportive role in achieving greater gender equality in the country, by providing a healthy environment for the advancement of women at both national and international arenas. The Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development which is responsible for addressing womens issues in Malaysia has had its budget increase from RM 1.8 million (US$ 0.5 million) in 2001 to RM 30.5 million (US$ 8.6 million) in 2005, demonstrating the countrys serious commitment to the cause.Future challenges to be considered include addressing the continued poverty among female-headed households combating violence against women raising the effectiveness of gender mainstreaming strategies reducing womens risk of contracting HIV removing attitudinal challenges that impact capacity-building and raising the level of womens participation in the labour force, in business and in politics and government.KPWKM is headed by a Minister, currently held by Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil (UMNO). Sh e is assisted by a Deputy Minister, currently held by Senator Heng Seai Kie (MCA). The following departments and agencies are under the purview of the KPWKM* subdivision for Womens DevelopmentIn 1975, the Government set up the National Advisory Council on the Integration of Women in Development (NACIWID) as the machinery to ensure the involvement of women in development. In 1983, the Secretariat for Womens Affairs (HAWA) in the Prime Ministers Department was established to take over the tasks of the NACIWID Secretariat. From 1997, HAWA functioned as a department under the former Ministry of National sensation and Social Development. In 2001, the Department was placed under the then newly established KPWKM and restructured as the Department for Womens Development (DWD). By 2002, the DWD had set up sort offices in every state in Malaysia.7* Social Welfare DepartmentInitially set up in 1946 as the Community Welfare Department of Malaya, the Social Welfare Department (SWD) has evolve d in fulfilling its role in national development. From initially being involved in mitigating the social problems brought about by the straightaway post-war period, the role and functions of this department have expanded to cover prevention and rehabilitation services in social issues as well as community development.8* National Population and Family Development BoardThe National Population and Family Development Board (NPFDB) was established in 1966 to improve the reproductive health status of women and men and set ahead family planning. It has since evolved to include policy and advisory roles by assisting planners and programme managers to integrate population and family development into sectoral development programme planning as well as help policy makers to consider population and family development factors in the formulation of national development policies and strategies.9* Social Institute of MalaysiaThe Social Institute of Malaysia was set up to pass on professional and semi-professional training in the field of training and research as well as social education to all social workers from various levels and groups from deep down and outside the country including non-governmental organizations. It currently operates from a 50-acre (200,000 m2) campus in Sungai Besi that was completed in 2001.