Press Release: Walks The Talk To Stop Violence Against Women

L-R: 3 walkers - Clarice Mojigoh, Ros Moguloi , Datuk Elizabeth Maurice, Organising Chairperson - Puan Sri Siew Yong Gnanalingam, Managing Director, Body Shop - Datin Mina Cheah-Foong, Deputy Organising Chairperson

Three Soroptimist International members from the SI Kota Kinabalu club will walk close to 1,000kms in 16 days from Perlis to Johor Bahru and fly over to Kuching to walk 6kms to the city centre and conclude with a walk from the KK Airport and walk 10kms to the city centre for a celebratory welcome, in a campaign to stop violence against women.

“The Walk The Talk from Perlis to Sabah-Stop Violence Against Women” event is organised by Soroptimist International Region of Malaysia (SIROM) in collaboration with the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development and supported by the Royal Police Malaysia with Body shop as the main sponsor.

The event will be officially launched in Arau, Perlis by DYTM Tuanku Hajah Lailatul Shahreen Akashah Khalil, Raja Puan Muda Perlis on 21st November 2012, where DYTM Tuanku Syed Faizuddin Putra Ibni Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Jamalullai will take the lead to Walk the Talk for 4Kms from Arau to the border of Perlis with his rakyat from the state.

The Walk organised by SIROM will lead the way for a Soroptimist International South West Pacific (SISWP) Federation wide event on the theme “Walk The Talk – Stop Violence Against Women” during the UN-declared “16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence”.

“I am proud that Soroptimist International members of Malaysia are walking the talk to show the way to spread the message that violence will not be tolerated by Malaysians and to seek to reduce the apathy of the public” to violence in the family in relationship and in public places where women and girls are the victims”says Puan Sri Siew Yong Gnanalingam, who is President of SISWP and Organising Chairperson of the event.

“Campaigning on gender issues is not something new. This time around, we are happy to be working with our new partners Soroptimist International, Malaysia in order to spread the word that violence against women has to stop. With stores located throughout the peninsula, it made absolute sense for The Body Shop to be part of this Walk The Talk campaign with Soroptimist”, says Datin Mina Cheah—Foong, Managing Director of The Body Shop.

The members of the Public are invited to participate in the walk throughout the route from Perlis to Johor Bahru and from Kuching Airport to the City Centre and the last leg from Kota Kinabalu Airport to the city centre for a grand celebration.

“To show their support, the public can donate RM50 for a Walk The Talk themed T-Shirt, to walk and support the cause as well as encourage the 3 walkers to complete their mission. The net proceeds of the funds from the T-shirts will go towards awareness workshops for youths and personal safety for children and to assist women victims of violence” says SIROM President and Deputy Organising Chairperson, Joanne Yeoh.

The public can go to the website www.org.my.
Besides SIROM and SI Clubs in Malaysia, the beneficiary partners of the walk are Women’s Aid Organisation (WAO), All Women’s Action Society (AWAM), Women ‘s Centre for Change, Penang (WCC) and Perak Women for Women Society (PWW).

For more information, call Puan Sri Siew Yong Gnanalingam (012-2780373), Organising Chairperson, Joanne Yeoh (012-3891389), Deputy Organising Chairperson or log on to www.soroptimist.org.my.