Malaysia.

Over 500 people including men and women NGOs and the Minister of Women and Family Development Dato' Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil, gathered for the launching of Citizens Against Rape--Make Public Safe--Towards a Violence-free Community campaign held on July 20 2003. The All Women's Action Society (AWAM), who have been advocating on the issue of violence against women, planned the campaign to harness public momentum in support of the issue of making public spaces safe. The campaign's following objectives are: To gain public support and foster community involvement in the fight against rape; to provide the authorities with recommendations for improving the security standards of public spaces and to launch the monitoring body, Citizens Against Rape (CAR); to keep track of the state of violence against women in the country and the commitments currently being made by the various authorities; and to raise awareness on the amendments of the anti-rape legislation. It is envisoned that this public gathering would be the first step in a longterm renewed campaign against rape. Currently, the tasks and immediate goals of CAR will be set on a year to year basis, until the body gains more experience and legitimacy in the eyes of the public. For the upcoming year, CAR will make recommendations to various government agencies through a nation-wide petition which includes the implemention of sex education that incorporates gender equality, courses on personal safety, enforcement of mandatory security measures in public places, campaigns to inform the public of the actions and procedures that should be taken in the event of a violent crime.

Contact: AWAM, 85 Jalan 21/1. Sea Park, Petaling Jaya, 46300 Selangor Darul Ehsan. Tel: [phone] ; Fax: [phone]; Email: [e-mail]; Website: www.eawam.com