KUCHING: Sarawak Women for Women Society (SWWS) is delighted that newly appointed federal Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri is focusing on the formulation of the Elderly Persons Act and the Social Work Profession Act.
SWWS president Dr Angie Garet said the Social Work Profession Act was needed to uplift professionalism within key agencies, including those entrusted to deal with child abuse, and had been delayed despite cross-party support due to frequent changes in government.
“Thus, we fully support it and look forward to its speedy implementation,” she stressed.
“We concur with the minister (Nancy) that the proposed Elderly Persons Act is also carefully considered before tabled as older people are vulnerable, and legislation can provide the framework for more support as well as protection.
“This includes abuse within care institutions and domestic setting but will require developing systems, which can establish the dynamics that led to the specific abuse so the most appropriate intervention is given.”
Garet said there was a big difference between callous, calculated abuse and a stressed, overwhelmed, usually loving carer reaching snapping point so careful thought would need to be given on how to differentiate and appropriately address this.
As an organisation committed to tackling domestic violence, she said SWWS was concerned about the increased vulnerability of elderly women, the lack of support to carers (usually women) and the feminisation of poverty.
“Thus, we would welcome an opportunity to share our views in more detail as the views of many stakeholders will be needed in the formulation of the new laws,” she added.
On Dec 5, Nancy said she would focus on the formulation of the Elderly Persons Act and the Social Work Profession Act.
Nancy, who is also the Santubong MP, said the drafting of the new Acts needed to be done carefully, taking into account evidence-based studies.
