| Rokiah Mahmud |
HER Royal Highness Princess Hajah Masna, the Ambassador-at-Large at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MoFAT) yesterday officiated the Regional Women Conference 2016, organised by the Women Graduates Association of Brunei Darussalam (PSW).
Upon arrival at the International Convention Centre (ICC), Her Royal Highness was greeted by the regional women conference organising committee led by President of PSW, Pengiran Hajah Zabaidah binti Pegiran Haji Kamaluddin.
The conference carries the theme ‘Muslimah Personality Exemplary Axis to the Excellence of Ummah’. It was also held in line with the association’s vision to empower women to participate in economic life in all sectors in terms of building stronger economies, in achieving agreed goals for development and sustainability and in improving the quality of life for women, families and communities.
The ceremony commenced with the recitation of Surah Al-Fatihah and verses from the Al-Quran read by Siti Huzaimah Yadey binti Haji Rosli.
In her welcoming address, Pengiran Hajah Zabaidah shared that the conference hoped to provide women with relevant and appropriate knowledge in line with the roles and guidelines that are Syariah-compliant.
She added that, in conjunction with the International Women’s Day that was celebrated last March, the association conducted a random online survey based on sexual harassment at the workplace.
Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Masna, the Ambassador-at-Large at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MoFAT) officiates the opening of Regional Women Conference at International Convention Centre (ICC) yesterday. – PHOTOS: ROKIAH MAHMUD
Her Royal Highness in a group photo with the Regional Women Conference committee.
She explained that according to the findings of the survey that received 200 responses from both the public and private sectors, many of these women who have experienced sexual harassment were in the middle of their service.
“Most of the harassment includes using of obscene words, immoral practice of physical actions, sharing inappropriate images or pictures either at the work place or via social media. It leads to embarrassment and pent-up anger among women and degrades their dignity,” she said.
According to the survey, 32 per cent of women have been harassed by their workmates, and 37 per cent by their superiors or top officials. Among the objectives of the survey was to find percentage of sexual harassment encountered in both the public and private sectors and to suggest mechanisms in handling the complaints.
She shared that, out of the 200 responses, 52 per cent were from the public sector while 44 per cent were from the private sector. Most of these women who faced such harassment shared their problem either with their colleagues (48.7 per cent), bosses or superiors (31.1 per cent), administrative or management personnel (19.3 per cent) and only 9.2 per cent lodged reports to the police.
Based on the findings, she added, that it was interesting but not surprising to find that 59.2 per cent of these women felt that their cases were not handled properly and unfairly, while 84.4 per cent added that legal protection is still not enough for them to be out of the situation.
Her Royal Highness officiated the conference and later on presented certificates to former and current presidents of the association as well as invited speakers. Her Royal Highness also received a pesambah from the President of PSW.
Among the objectives of the conference were to have a deep understanding and appreciation of Muslimah during the days of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), familiarise and understand Brunei Darussalam’s Islamic figures and to follow their examples, increase knowledge and awareness on the various forms of challenges against young Muslimah, inspire and establish the new generation in applying the idea and cultivating true personalities of Muslimah and generate the awareness on the importance of scholarly and strengthened self-esteem.
A keynote paper was presented by Dr Lilly Suzana binti Haji Shamsu, Dean of Faculty of Usuluddin, Universiti Islam Sultan Sharif Ali (UNISSA) titled ‘Muslimah Brunei Dalam Pembangunan Negara: Prospek dan Cabaran’ (Brunei’s Muslimah in the Country’s Development: Prospect and Challenges).
The conference then continued with a plenary session presented by Pengiran Dr Hajah Nur Ashikin binti Pengiran Haji Petra chaired by Dr Hajah Sarinah binti Haji Yahya.
The conference also saw the presentation of working papers from three international speakers Kurnia Irawati Istadi from Indonesia, Dr Norsaleha binti Mohd Salleh from Malaysia and Suriati Abdullah from Singapore.
Some 300 local and regional participants attended the conference.
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