Gender-Based Violence among Malaysia’s Marginalized

Gender-based violence severely impacts the lives of women in Malaysia. Unequal gender relations, deeply entrenched in both societal norms and institutions, normalize such abuse and discrimination. Women living under precarious conditions, such as those seeking asylum or working on plantations, are especially vulnerable. Recent legislative initiatives, for instance the 2022 Anti Sexual Harassment Act, mark notable progress. Yet, lackluster implementation and limited reach curtail their effectiveness. Hence, the Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung has joined hands with Malaysian human rights organization Tenaganita to support marginalized women in confronting gender-based violence within their communities.

Tenaganita set out to provide educational resources on gender equality. Initially, the organization conducted a Participatory Action Research among a handful of plantation and refugee communities. This method puts the affected women themselves in charge of identifying issues, analyzing root causes and designing a plan of action, thus ensuring the research’s relevance to their particular experiences. In 2023, Tenaganita and the women collaborators published an extensive training manual. It introduces the concept of gender-based violence and offers practical advice on legal aspects, mental health and available assistance. The manual has become a key tool for several refugee organizations. It has also been translated into five languages and inspired a theater play by students at Taylor University. Tenaganita’s own trainings, facilitated by the women collaborators, have reached hundreds of plantation and refugee community members. Participants reported feeling more confident and a growing sense of solidarity.

A central research finding is that tackling the complex issue of gender-based violence requires a multi-level approach. Thus, Tenaganita has been building a male allies network since 2023. Workshops targeted at men in refugee and plantation communities have focused on building perspective and highlighting their responsibility in confronting gender inequality. Recently, Tenaganita has also begun to address the underlying issues of economic dependence and political marginalization by adding leadership training to its sustained engagement with women collaborators. Further, the organization has supplemented its efforts with policy advocacy. Tenaganita presented a research report to the Ministry of Women and reached out to the public via social media and news coverage. In 2025, Tenaganita is organizing a dialogue between all previously involved refugee and plantation communities. The group will hold a press conference and develop a collective plan of action based on their shared experiences.

To learn more about migration or working conditions on plantations across the Indo-Pacific, check out the Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung publications “Atlas of Migration” and “Fine Teas for Starvation Wages”.