ArchiveS ArchiveS

 

Thank you, Madam Chair.

 

Malaysia remains unequivocally committed towards gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls. We reaffirm the central role of the Commission on the Status of Women in addressing challenges in achieving this important endeavour. As stated in our statement at the general discussion last week, the priority theme of the Commission this year comes at a timely and crucial juncture, given the immense impact of technology to all, particularly women and girls, both positive and otherwise. We recognize the importance of providing safe, inclusive and equal access to technology for women and girls to enhance the full enjoyment of their human rights and fundamental freedoms, as well as the importance of a multi-faceted, whole-of-society approach to promote equal access and fair participation of women and girls in the digital world.

 

With regard to the Agreed Conclusions, we appreciate the efforts of the Bureau, particularly Ambassador Maria del Carmen Squeff of Argentina, in facilitating the process that brought us to the adoption of the Agreed Conclusions. However, we wish to reflect on the approach that was adopted by the Bureau this year.

 

Since the very beginning of the process, Malaysia had expressed concerns over the so-called “closed” paragraph approach introduced by the Bureau this year, which was decided without consultations with members of the Commission or Member States as a whole. Many delegations, including my own, did not get a satisfactory response on the criteria behind the selection of the so-called “closed” paragraphs, given that some of them contain elements in which many delegations had expressed strong reservations. Nevertheless, we exerted all efforts to consider this approach, in good faith, as a genuine attempt to avoid re-opening discussions on a number of contentious topics and to save time in the negotiations process. In our view, it did not yield the desired outcome. We hope that the incoming Bureau will consider other approaches to improve time efficiency of the negotiation process.

 

Madam Chair,

 

We had exercised flexibility throughout the negotiations, stressing only on issues that are extremely problematic to us. Unfortunately, some of these concerns were not accommodated. While recognising that human rights are universal and indivisible, its execution must be considered in the national and regional context, in view of the difference in legal, cultural, historical and religious backgrounds.

 

Recognising the importance of the issue and the majority of elements contained in the document, Malaysia joined consensus in the adoption of the Agreed Conclusions. However, we wish to put on record, our reservations on and disassociation from the following references contained in the document:

 

References to “multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination” as contained in paragraphs 16 and (x); and

 

The reference to “diverse situations and conditions” as contained in paragraph (tt).

 

Malaysia does not recognise these terminologies as agreed language or consensual concepts within the United Nations as they are inconsistent with our national position. They remain vague and open to ambiguous interpretations that are not shared by all countries. We will continue to object the introduction of such terminologies and references as we have done so judiciously for the past few sessions of the Commission as well as in other UN fora.

 

Madam Chair,

 

Malaysia wishes to state that the implementation of these Agreed Conclusions would be in line with the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, which takes into account national and regional particularities and various historical, cultural and religious backgrounds, as well as national laws and that the formulation of strategies, policies, programmes and development priorities is the sovereign responsibility of States.

 

We request that this statement be made part of the official records of the meeting.

 

I thank you.