KUALA LUMPUR, 8 March 2007 - The discrimination of women and human trafficking was the primary focus of this year’s International Women’s Day celebration at University College Sedaya International (UCSI). 

Organised by UCSI’s Social Science and Liberal Arts Association (SSLA), the event saw the guest speaker, Dr. Irene Fernandez from Tenaganita giving a talk on Human Trafficking. 

Dr. Fernandez said that Tenaganita’s main objective is to promote and protect women and migrant workers in Malaysia. “Our role is also to create opportunities for women and migrants and help them develop their potential,” she said. “Everyone needs to play a role in helping to solve issues pertaining to violence and social inequality.”Dr. Fernandez urged tertiary students to offer their services for the betterment of women in this country. “They can register to become volunteers with Tenaganita via its website, www.tenaganita.net,” she said.

The second speaker, UCSI’s Vice President for Research and Corporate Affairs, Professor Dr. Norfadzillah Hitam said that laws to protect women’s rights have to be introduced and enforced. “We also need to educate our young people on issues pertaining to sexual discrimination,” she said. “When they eventually graduate, they need to know how to conduct themselves.”

The event was jointly-organised by students majoring in Mass Communications and Psychology at UCSI, with the help of their advisor, Ken Choong.

Choong said that he felt compassion for women who have endured hardships such as migrant workers, mothers, and other victims of human trafficking and domestic violence.

“I think it is important that we get out of our comfort zone and lend a helping hand to these people,” he said. “We need to put ourselves in their shoes.”

Without prejudice to the rights of UCSI the information herein is correct at the time of printing and UCSI reserves the right to make amendments without prior notice."