LETTER | Focus on parents, not just mothers

LETTER | The Joint Action Group for Gender Equality (JAG) expresses grave concerns regarding the standard operating procedures (SOPs) released to the public by the Women, Family and Community Development Minister Nancy Shukri that determine mothers unfit to care for their children as reported in Malaysiakini titled “Nancy: SOP determining women as ‘unfit’ mothers to be made public”.

It is essential to recognise the importance of ensuring the welfare and well-being of children, which is a responsibility shared by both parents, but also to a larger degree, the community and other institutions.

In February 2022, The Star cited approximately 50 percent to 80 percent of mothers experience postpartum depression and this is a statistic that is on an increasing trend in developing countries.

The role women play, particularly in domestic and care work, parenting and nurturing children is an overwhelming responsibility to be put upon only one parent.

JAG also expresses deep concerns regarding the potential for discrimination in these SOPs based on gender and gender roles.

Any procedures put in place to evaluate parental fitness must prioritise the best interests of the child and be carried out in a fair, transparent, and non-discriminatory manner.

It is critical that any guidelines established for determining parental fitness do not discriminate based on gender.

We agree that it is crucial to question why there seems to be a focus on mothers' fitness without corresponding procedures for fathers.

Equality in parenting is fundamental so as to not deny the child their rightful access to receive love, care and guidance equally from both parents, which is likely to result in healthy mental and emotional growth.

The Social Welfare Department must exercise its powers judiciously and in a manner that respects the rights of both parents and prioritises the best interests of the child.

We call for a thorough and inclusive review of the SOPs discussed by Nancy to ensure they are fair, non-discriminatory, and reflective of the best interests of the child.

An initiative to support parents, including possible parenting classes for both parents, should ideally be provided to families undergoing this SOP.

This statement is endorsed by the following member organisations of the Joint Action Group for Gender Equality (JAG), specifically:

• All Women's Action Society (Awam)

• Association of Women Lawyers (AWL)

• Empower

• Family Frontiers

• Justice for Sisters

• Kryss Network

• Perak Women for Women Society (PWW)

• Sabah Women’s Action-Resource Group (Sawo)

• Sisters in Islam (SIS)

The JOINT ACTION GROUP FOR GENDER EQUALITY (JAG) is a coalition of 14 women’s rights organisations in Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah, and Sarawak that uphold international human rights standards in promoting justice, equality, and non-discrimination.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.