In Malaysia (which is not a signatory of the 1951 Refugee Convention or its subsequent protocols), Rohingya women find little protection, as they lack legal status and are criminalized by domestic law.

The lack of legal status results in restricted access to healthcare, limited freedom of movement, and no access to education or legal employment. Many women do not speak the local language and have no social safety net. When exposed to sexual violence and intimate partner violence, they face difficulties going to the local police, and have little to no avenue for help.

While refugees are entitled to a 50% discount on healthcare fees in government facilities, the foreigners’ fee rate is prohibitively expensive for a population with no access to legal employment. In addition, when a woman becomes pregnant and requires antenatal care, many are apprehensive about approaching government health facilities in fear of being turned away or mistreated due to their documentation status. A pregnant mother usually undergoes monthly antenatal check-ups (ANC), which comprise of ultrasound scans, assessments and tests to monitor the pregnancy and identify any potentially life-threatening complications at an early stage. These regular check-ups are expensive for pregnant Rohingya women with limited resources.

MSF offers antenatal care for free in Penang state, including registration for an ANC book for the expectant mother in addition to tests, scans and referrals for further intervention for complicated pregnancies. MSF refers newly arrived pregnant women to UNHCR to a get an Under Consideration Letter (UCL), which will offer them some level of protection when confronted with enforcement authorities. The UCL also ensures that the women are eligible to receiving the 50% discount on healthcare fees.

This personal testimony highlights and bears witness to the pregnancy journey of a documented woman from the refugee community in Malaysia.

It also illustrates the barriers to accessing healthcare for this segment of the population, and the fear that undocumented pregnant women have when seeking ANC care due to Health Circular 10/2001.