Domestic violence and rapes continue to rise in Malaysia despite several efforts made by the Government to curb the vices, said Malaysian Deputy Women, Family and Community Development Minister Chew Mei Fun.

Addressing the media at the launch of Amnesty International's report on "The Gender Trap - Women, Violence and Poverty", Chew said the issue of poverty among women and violence against them had been on the international, regional and national agendas for over a decade, but they are still suffering from discrimination.

She further said that the ministry would create awareness among the public and review laws and regulations that discriminated against women and hindered their empowerment

According to statistics from the Malaysian police showed that the number of reported domestic violence cases went up by 505 cases from 3,264 in 2006 to 3,769 in 2008, The Star reports.

Meanwhile, social activist Marina Mahathir said that violence against women also included sexual harassment, sexual violence, female genital mutilation, the so-called honour killings and the trafficking of women and girls.

"It is primarily caused by gender inequality where women are viewed as lesser beings than men and therefore have to be submissive, controlled and exploited," she said. (ANI)

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