Election of 7-member governing body marks new phase of growth
and service AWARE
 

AWARE has begun a new phase of growth and service.
 
At the 25th Annual General Meeting on 28 August, members elected a seven-member Board that will serve for two years instead of one and will provide leadership for the association in a governance rather than an operational role.

The new Board, comprising both veteran and relatively new members, is led by corporate lawyer Nicole Tan as President and family lawyer Halijah Mohamad as Vice President. [See full list of Board members.]

Nicole, who has been an AWARE member for 13 years, served on the last Executive Committee as the Assistant Secretary and Chair of the Legal Subcommittee. She was also a member of the Professionalisation Subcommittee and drafted the new bye-laws.

“AWARE”, said Nicole, “provides a forum for exploration, expression and education on gender equality issues. This forum is precious. It was precious to the giants before me; it is precious to me; and – unless AWARE succeeds beyond our wildest imagination – it will be precious for my daughter.

“This year AWARE celebrates its 25th anniversary. We are also embarking on a new, more professional phase. My professional training as a lawyer, in particular a corporate lawyer, equips me with skills that are relevant and important in this phase of evolution of the Association.

“Like many of our members, I juggle family and work. I truly empathise with the woman who wants it all, the woman who fears that something’s got to give. So it is not without trepidation that I put this new role on my already full plate; and I thank my family, in advance, for the sacrifices that they will have to make.

“That said, I am very glad that I have on the board a mixture of old and new members balancing continuity with the infusion of new blood. We have lawyers, an entrepreneur and educationist, media and marketing professionals, academics, and a financial adviser, each bringing to the table their different perspective of being a woman and their different professional skills.”

Nicole, who is bilingual, added: “During the next two years, AWARE will draw on her strengths in research and public education and reach out to the non-English speaking public. AWARE will also strengthen her competencies and engage in discussion and debate on issues that affect us all. I say to all who can contribute, please join us!”

Welcoming the “great mix of old and new faces’” on the new Board, former President Dana Lam said it had been a privilege to serve AWARE in what had been an exceptionally challenging year.

“I’m very proud of the team,” she said. “We pulled together and we have definitely come out of the year stronger. What I am most proud of is the team’s commitment to renewal and continuity. The threat to AWARE’s values and principles led many of us to realize that we must protect and advance what we believe in. This has served us very well in the past year and I am sure it will continue in the future.

“In the past year, we focussed on identifying our key needs and on the professionalization process. This commitment to professionalising our operations began when Constance Singam was leading AWARE in 2008. We are fortunate that Corinna Lim was able and willing to take on the task of being Executive Director. With her leading the operations of AWARE, we are now more ready than ever to move forward.”

Corinna Lim, who became Executive Director in March this year, described the members of the new Board as “strong individuals, dynamic and smart, each with a wealth of experience in their respective fields”.

She added: “I have worked closely with both Nicole Tan and Halijah Mohamed and have the highest regard for them as individuals and as professionals. I have no doubt that with their leadership, the Board will be an effective and high functioning team that will see AWARE reaching new heights.

“I would also like to say a Big Thank You to the outgoing Board, especially to Dana Lam and Chew Ijin, for their courageous dedication and leadership. This was a more onerous year than usual and they have sacrificed a great deal to see AWARE through the year and to turn what was a crisis into an opportunity to strengthen AWARE.”

The switch from a 12-member Executive Committee that served for one year to a seven-member Board serving for two years follows changes to AWARE’s Constitution approved by members at the 23rd AGM held in March 2008. Another change requires candidates for the Board to have been AWARE members for at least two years.

Members of the AWARE Board 2010-2012

President Nicole Tan		Vice President Halijah Mohamed
Immediate Past President Dana Lam		Treasurer Ann Seow
Secretary Lindy Ong
Members
Chew I-Jin		Margaret Thomas
Teo You Yenn

The judge said it was factually rape.

Five young men aged 17-19 versus one young woman aged 17.

… a gang sexual assault of a grave nature which the accused persons had perpetrated without her consent.

Despite this fairly clear-cut assessment, the charges were reduced and the five accused were found guilty of the lesser charge of “aggravated outrage of modesty.”

Why did the public prosecutor* agree to reduced charges? We may never know but the favoured theory of the rumour mill was echoed in recent TNP coverage:

“…she […] was not completely blameless.”
- The New Paper (14 August)

In other words, it was partly her fault.

If this reasoning sounds familiar or even sensible it is because we believe it to be true in almost every case of rape. You don’t even have to know the facts of a case to know this will be suggested.

So what are the facts in this particular case?

According to various news sources the story goes like this (some details omitted for brevity):

The boys wanted female company. The group leader got the girl’s number from one of the others and called her claiming to be a schoolmate. The victim accepted the invitation for supper and was surprised when she arrived at the apartment to find a group of guys she didn’t know (only one of the five was known to her). After some reluctance, she agreed to enter the flat. There they played drinking games and she consumed more than five shots of vodka. Her head was spinning and her vision impaired. In this state, after some pressure, she became aroused by the boy who kept hitting on her. She agreed to sex with him alone in the bedroom. When the two later emerged, she went to sleep off her stupor on a bench in the common area. While she rested, she was carried back into the bedroom and stripped naked. Someone said “let’s start.” Then, over the course of the next two hours, each took their turn as they held her down. Some penetrated her vaginally, others orally. When they were done, she was left bleeding from vaginal trauma. They helped her wash up then gave her $10 for cab fare home.

So how can she be blamed in such a hideous scenario?

One lawyer explained it as follows:

“It’s like driving while intoxicated. You have to take some responsibility for your actions.“

It seems the victim was guilty of drunk driving a vulva.

Let’s look at a very similar situation.

If a man were to get completely drunk and wander into a dark ally, is he responsible when he gets beaten up and robbed? We acknowledge that his behaviour was risky and the outcome foreseeable. But would his risky behaviour be grounds for reducing the sentences of the perpetrators? Do we say, “Well yes that was wrong of them but he did tempt them so it’s not totally their fault. He’s partly to blame.”

In this scenario, we do not mistake foolishness with provoking attack. The attacker doesn’t receive leniency just for finding easy prey.

Then why, in the case of rape, does the same failure result in blame?

As a society we generally hold the belief that women must always be on guard to protect their virtue because men cannot always control their natural urges.

To be raped is to fail at this duty of care. It is thus a matter of shame to be a victim. What other crime causes the victim to feel such shame?

And when we blame the victim, the inference is “so it’s not totally his fault.”

A rapist is not a victim of opportunity. His youth or mental capacity may provide reasons for leniency but we should feel no sympathy simply because he found an easy victim who failed to expect violence and failed to exercise caution.

Now before anyone gets bent out of shape because of situations where there may be a genuine misunderstanding about consent, let’s remember where we started this discussion. This is a clear-cut case of gang rape. Any guy finding himself with four friends holding down and penetrating a drunk girl is under no doubt he is engaged in a violent criminal act.

So why, even in this very shocking scenario, do we still ask, “How may she have brought this on to herself?”

It seems we just can’t help ourselves. It’s illogical, indefensible and certainly not just or compassionate. Yet the idea of female culpability is deeply entrenched in our psyche.

Stop blaming the victim.

A woman may expose herself to risk for many reasons: youthful innocence, a trusting nature, a carefree attitude, lack of cynicism and suspicion, thrill seeking behaviour, desire for acceptance, and so on.  Whatever the reason, it is not an invitation to rape.

The failure of a woman to adequately assess the risk of attack does not mean that she caused what happens and should take blame for it.

Yes, we should educate and encourage women to limit their risks, but this should not in any way imply that the victim is responsible for being violated.  We need to stop blaming the victims of rape.

 
*The public prosecutor acts on behalf of the state, not the victim. The prosecutor is NOT the victim’s lawyer. Rape carries a sentence of up to 20 years in jail. Aggravated outrage of modesty carries a sentence of up to 10 years however the public prosecutor only asked for 3-5 years in this case.

More:

• Police handling of rape cases in Singapore : Skills Upgrading Needed
• Rape: Myth versus Reality
• The privilege of not being raped
• Will you rape me? How to avoid being maced.
• Mark Chow, convicted of molestation, gets 18 months
• Workplace Sexual Harassment and Outrage of Modesty

Are you concerned about what’s happening around you?

If you have an interest in social and other issues and would like to have your say about them, come to our monthly AWARE Roundtable meetings.

Discussion and debate have always been an important part of AWARE. In gatherings large and small, formal and informal, we have discussed issues and examined policies.

The discussions sometimes led to submissions to the authorities or to publications; other times they kept AWARE abreast of current affairs, public policies and social trends.

As AWARE turns 25, we want to make this discussion and debate a regular activity with a more formal structure. A key aim is strengthen AWARE’s capacity to identify, understand and respond to a wide range of trends, issues and policies.

We are thus launching The AWARE Roundtable, a monthly event open to AWARE members and invited guests.

The AWARE Roundtable will kick off on Thursday 9 September 7pm with the topic Women’s Lives: Women’s Choices: A discussion of the past, the present and the future of women’s lives in Singapore.

Register here for September’s Discussion

The topic for the October Roundtable is The rise of Christian fundamentalism and its impact on women. This will take place at 7pm on October 14th.
A number of members led by former AWARE president Constance Singam have made a commitment to attend the sessions and lead the discussions. We would like invite other members to join this core group so that we have a large enough pool of people to tap.

Register here for October’s Discussion

This discussion will be part of the preparation for a planned conference on the subject in November to mark AWARE’s 25th anniversary.

What’s needed is an interest in issues, a willingness to read and prepare for discussions, and a commitment to attend all, or at least a majority, of the sessions.

If you’d like to join the group please register at the links above.

If you have any queries, please email training@aware.org.sg.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
A war of words raged on these pages a few weeks ago. My article A Secular Society Interrupted led several readers to engage in a heated debate about whether there is such a thing as innate goodness.

I would very much like to believe in the ‘innate goodness’ of human beings. But I have no empirical evidence to support that belief.

The French philosopher Jean Jacques Rousseau believed in the innate goodness of man, that man did not acquire ethical and moral values but was born with them. According to Immanuel Kant, the German philosopher, these innate ideas are the only things we have certain knowledge of, and thus are the most important and trustworthy of all.

Confucian philosophy is built on the l belief that man is basically good. He did say, though, “I for my part have never yet seen one who really cared for goodness, nor one who really abhorred wickedness.” (Analects 4:6)

What I was arguing in A Secular Society Interrupted was simply that one should not assume that those who do not subscribe to a religion have no sense of right and wrong, or that their stand on certain issues is suspect since they don’t believe in God.
In making that argument, my main concern is whether we are able, if we owe allegiance to a religion, to suspend our religious values in a public space in a secular society rich in diversity of religion, culture and race. This is not, however, a denial of the role of religion in public life and debate on issues and policies. Every individual has a civic responsibility to engage in public debate in areas that matter to them.
 
My point is that the need to suspend personal beliefs is a critical requirement of policy-makers. Every day, policy-makers are called upon to make decisions that profoundly affect the lives of people. Are they able to suspend the influence of personal factors, such as sex, race and religion, and make decisions based on facts? Or, at least, can they tell us, the citizens, on what basis they have made their decisions on matters that affect us? Are they able to be transparent?
 
As I see it, the problem, particularly in Singapore, is the lack of a safe place for such questions to be raised; for an open discussion on the role of religion, the role of conscience in public life.
Meanwhile, on the discussion about ‘innate goodness’ – my Google research revealed that it is a very hotly debated topic. I have yet to discover which side is winning the argument.
 
I conclude, on a lighter note, with a story. It’s from Faith without God: Finding Courage in Hard Times by Lawrence Bush of the Brooklyn Society for Ethical Culture. He writes:

There is a Jewish story about a devout man who is on a difficult business trip and realizes that he’ll never get home before the sun sets and the Sabbath begins. He presents himself at the home of the local rabbi and says, ‘Rabbi, the Sabbath is about to begin, please let me stay with you and keep me from sinning.’

The rabbi says, ‘My good man, I have a household full, I cannot fit one more. Go in good health; I’m sure that God will provide.’

The poor traveler goes to another house, with religious ornamentation on its door, and he gets the same friendly rebuff, ‘I’m sure God will provide.’ This keeps happening, as the sun sinks and darkness spreads.

Finally he comes to the home of the local Bundist, the radical, the atheist. And he is amazed to be brought in. And he is amazed that the Bundist has Sabbath candles on the table, waiting to be lit, and bread and wine, waiting to be blessed and eaten.

They do all that together, and the traveler says, ‘My friend, how can it be? All of the religious Jews in your town send me away from their door, telling me that God will provide; and you, a rascal, an atheist, you bring me in and treat me to kindness . . .’
‘Because, my brother,’ says the Bundist, ‘I know that God will not provide.’

Gender Inequity: It’s Not Hyperbole

Sheryl WuDunn’s book “Half the Sky” investigates the oppression of women globally. Her stories shock. Only when women in developing countries have equal access to education and economic opportunity will we be using all our human resources.

“Once its benefits are recognized, investment in girls’ education may well be the highest return investment available in the developing world.”

– Lawrence Summers Former Chief Economist of The World Bank

You can find out more about the book and how to get involved in helping to hold up half the sky, here.

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Every month the AWARE Helpline gets an average of 260 calls from women struggling with some problem – domestic abuse, immigration and other legal obstacles, or who simply need to talk and be heard.
Some face potentially harrowing days in courts or visits to hospitals, police stations or shelters.

AWARE tries to help as many as possible. The more volunteers we have on our rosters, the more we can help. So if you have some time to spare during the workweek and would like to help us help women in distress, please sign up for our training programmes for the Helpline and Befrienders Service.

Training for both the services begins Tuesday 7 September at 7pm.

Helpline

The AWARE Helpline was launched in 1990. It is the first point of contact for anyone needing help or wanting to find out about our services. Helpline volunteers offer empathy, support, information and encouragement to women in need of assistance.

The AWARE Helpline Training Programme is conducted over a period of 3-4 months in 3 different phases, each subsequent phase building upon the one before. The AWARE Helpline runs from 3pm to 9:30pm Monday – Friday.

Befrienders Service

The AWARE Befrienders Service provides volunteers to accompany women on their visits to court, hospitals, police stations or shelters. Volunteers are there to provide emotional support and procedural guidance.

The Befrienders Service is primarily for women who are victims of domestic or other gender-based violence. This opportunity is most suitable for volunteers who are available during office hours on weekdays.

Requirements

• Women above 23 years of age
• A self-reliant and pro-active attitude
• Agreement with the values of the organisation
• Able to commit to:
• a minimum of a year of volunteering after completion of basic training
• attendance at refresher training sessions

We also require volunteers to be AWARE members (the membership fee is $40 per year) and to pay a nominal sum for the training (Helpline: $80; Befrienders: $50).

If you are interested, please contact Anne at operations@aware.org.sg or call 6779 7137 to obtain an application form. Please submit applications by 2 September.

The AWARE Training Institute (“ATI”) is looking for a dynamic manager to organise and market its training and programmes focused on helping women reach their highest potential (“Training Programmes”). The Manager will market ATI’s new programmes, including workplace sexual harassment and Financial Intelligence programmes.

JOB SCOPE

• Implementing ATI’s plans and programmes
• Marketing, selling and organising AWARE’s Training Programmes, forums and conferences;

Developing and implementing plans for various campaigns related to public education on specific issues

• Developing partnerships with other organisations to promote ATI’s objectives.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

• Minimum 3 years marketing and/or training related experience
• Strong organisational and people skills
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Good knowledge of computer software applications (PowerPoint, Excel, MS Word)
• Familiar with new media usage (Facebook, Blogging, etc.)

VALUED EXPERIENCE AND ABILITIES

• Knowledge of Mandarin and/or Malay
• Believes in gender equality and the values of AWARE
• Experience in Public Relations management will be useful

HOW TO APPLY

Send a letter and your CV including the names and contact numbers of 2 referees to:

Corinna Lim
Executive Director
AWARE Centre
Block 5, #01-22, Dover Crescent
Singapore 130005

Fax No: 67770318
Email: hr@aware.org.sg

Your application should reach us by 10 September 2010.

AWARE seeks a Research and Advocacy Director (RAD) to develop, implement and manage AWARE’s Research and Advocacy capabilities to position AWARE as the leading NGO agency on Singapore’s compliance with the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and gender issues in Singapore.
JOB SCOPE

Reporting to the Executive Director (ED), the RAD is responsible for the following:

1. Define the direction and purpose for AWARE’s broad based Research and Advocacy (R&D) agenda for the next five years.
2. Focus on the delivery of AWARE’s R&D strategy including R&A programme development and implementation.
3. Develop outreach programmes to key stakeholders and represent AWARE to the public at such programmes.
4. Build (where applicable) partnerships and positive relationships with governmental and other non-governmental organizations to achieve mutual goals.
5. Assist the ED identify potential funding partners and help present high quality proposals to potential sponsors for R&D Projects.

VALUED EXPERIENCE AND COMPETENCIES

1. At least 8 years of research and advocacy experience (including experience in Singapore), preferably in relation to women’s or human rights issues
2. University degree in a related field
3. Excellent research and advocacy skills
4. Strong people and team development skills
5. Strong verbal and written communication skills
6. Good knowledge of CEDAW
7. A strong grounding in the principles of feminism
8. Related experience working with NGOs especially in collaborative partnerships

HOW TO APPLY

Send a letter and your CV including the names and contact numbers of 2 referees to:

Corinna Lim
Executive Director
AWARE Centre
Block 5, #01-22, Dover Crescent
Singapore 130005

Email: hr@aware.org.sg

Your application should reach us by 10 September 2010.

Training for the AWARE Helpline and for the Befrienders Service begins Tuesday 7 September!

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
HELPLINE
The AWARE Helpline was launched in 1990. It is the first point of contact for anyone needing help or wanting to find out about our services. Helpline volunteers offer empathy, support, information and encouragement to women in need of assistance. The AWARE Helpline Training Programme is conducted over a period of 3-4 months in 3 different phases, each subsequent phase building upon the one before. The AWARE Helpline runs from 3pm to 9:30pm Monday – Friday.

BEFRIENDERS SERVICE

The AWARE Befrienders Service provides volunteers to accompany women on their visits to court, hospitals, police stations or shelters. Volunteers are there to provide emotional support and procedural guidance. The Befrienders Service is primarily for women who are victims of domestic or other gender-based violence. This opportunity is most suitable for volunteers who are available during weekdays.

Other Requirements:

• Woman above 23 years of age
• A self-reliant and pro-active attitude
• Completed application form
• To agree to the Values of the organisation
• Commitment to volunteer regularly for a minimum of a year after completion of basic training; attendance at continual education training sessions; and continual supervision after graduation

AWARE membership fees – $40 per year
Training fees: for Helpline: $80; for Befrienders: $50

The training for both programmes begins on Tuesday, 7 September at 7pm.
If you are interested please contact Anne at operations@aware.org.sg or call 6779 7137 to obtain an application. Please submit applications by 2 September.