The NGO gets access to information on violence against women but is not allowed to go public with it.
KUALA LUMPUR: The Women’s Aid Organisation (WAO) has been allowed access to the 2010 Crime Statistics booklet prepared by Bukit Aman’s Sexual Crimes and Child Abuse division.
However, this permission, which was sought three months ago, comes with the condition that the statistics are only used for research and reference, and not for distribution to a third party.
WAO programme officer Valerie Mohan criticised this ruling, calling it “restrictive”.
She said that the statistics were needed to understand the incidences and trends of violence against women.
“The police have not given any substantiated reasons for restricting the use of the booklet and the need to hide such information.
“We maintain the position that freedom of and access to information is central to a democratic process and that all statistics of public interest should be made available without any hindrance,” she said.
WAO uses the statistics to formulate public education messages and policy reform.
The women’s rights NGO had asked for the booklet on March 3, but was told that it could not be released as the statistics were confidential.
Bukit Aman declined to comment except to say that the booklet had been classified as a secret document under the Official Secrets Act (OSA) on the instructions of the Inspector-General of PoliceIsmail Omar.
Ismail had said later that he had no inkling of the WAO request. “I haven’t seen the application. I have no idea what it’s about,” he said.
WAO later sent a sent a letter of appeal to Bukit Aman asking the police to reconsider their decision not to release the information.
KUALA LUMPUR: The Women’s Aid Organisation (WAO) has been allowed access to the 2010 Crime Statistics booklet prepared by Bukit Aman’s Sexual Crimes and Child Abuse division.However, this permission, which was sought three months ago, comes with the condition that the statistics are only used for research and reference, and not for distribution to a third party.
WAO programme officer Valerie Mohan criticised this ruling, calling it “restrictive”.
She said that the statistics were needed to understand the incidences and trends of violence against women.
“The police have not given any substantiated reasons for restricting the use of the booklet and the need to hide such information.
“We maintain the position that freedom of and access to information is central to a democratic process and that all statistics of public interest should be made available without any hindrance,” she said.
WAO uses the statistics to formulate public education messages and policy reform.
The women’s rights NGO had asked for the booklet on March 3, but was told that it could not be released as the statistics were confidential.
Bukit Aman declined to comment except to say that the booklet had been classified as a secret document under the Official Secrets Act (OSA) on the instructions of the Inspector-General of PoliceIsmail Omar.
Ismail had said later that he had no inkling of the WAO request. “I haven’t seen the application. I have no idea what it’s about,” he said.
WAO later sent a sent a letter of appeal to Bukit Aman asking the police to reconsider their decision not to release the information.
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