Recommendations: ● Government must ensure all women, regardless of nationality or income, have effective access to affordable healthcare services, including childbirth, reproductive health, and family planning. ● MoH to establish a dedicated unit/department to better address healthcare issues at places of detention. 4. Vulnerable Groups 4.1. Rights of Women SUHAKAM was a member of the Special Project Team (SPT) under the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development (MWFCD) to draft the Gender Equality Bill in 2019, which is yet to be enacted. The Government enacted the Anti-Sexual Harassment Act 2022 [Act 840] and SUHAKAM was actively involved in stakeholder engagements as a SPT member, to improve remaining gaps in this Act. The Government has applied patriarchal lineage in citizenship status application for children and a constitutional challenge is pending in the Federal Court on this matter. SUHAKAM is advocating for constitutional amendments to resolve lingering issues. Where a person is born in wedlock, outside of Malaysia, the person will qualify for citizenship only if the father is a Malaysian citizen, by operation of law under Part II, Second Schedule, FC. Recommendations: ● Legislate a Gender Equality Bill. ● Withdraw reservation to Article 9(2) of CEDAW to grant women equal rights with men with respect to the nationality of their children. ● Government to be consistent with the implementation of nondiscriminatory policies and laws relating to gender discrimination under Article 8 FC. ● Government to consider reviewing the current legislation by providing legal protection to both married and unmarried partners. ● Government to expedite amendments in allowing mothers to grant citizenship to their children. 6