As a national coalition of 116 women’s organisations across Malaysia, NCWO actively advocates for the mainstreaming of women’s full and equal participation in all areas of development. Our advocacy is strongly rooted in the principles of equality and human rights and guided by International frameworks such as CEDAW (Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women), Beijing Platform for Action (BPfA) and our National Policy on Women.

Mainstreaming women’s participation in all areas of development on numerous issues of concern such as human rights; anti-trafficking; unity; women’s health; engagement and development of young women and men in gender equality; supporting women in the economy, with a particular focus on entrepreneurs and corporate women; marginalised women and communities; and the critical role of women in sustainable development. The work in these areas is driven through NCWO’s committees for the above areas and also through its active participation in high level committees and issue dialogues at national, regional and international levels.

The transformational advocacy efforts of NCWO has seen us participating at high level committees to determine how women are to be made an essential part of mainstream Malaysia.

From its inception, NCWO has worked closely with government to ensure the participation of civil society in the formulation and implementation of policies and programmes. This has seen NCWO serving on government delegations to regional and international meetings as well as the ongoing contribution in particular to ASEAN policy documents.