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Year: 2014

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Better sex education will help youth make safer decisions

By Sumedha Jalote, Communications Executive, AWARE

The recent survey examining young people’s exposure to pornography highlights the importance of talking to them frankly and openly about sex.

Most pornography seldom reflects reality. Professional performers in popular pornography often engage in physical acts that are uncommon in reality, in part because they are often uncomfortable rather than enjoyable. Their bodies do not reflect the ordinary range of shapes and sizes.

Moreover, the interactions of performers tend to be modelled upon sexist and unrealistic sexual fantasies. Human relationships and practical considerations such as consent, STI prevention and contraception are seldom addressed in freely accessible, popular pornography.

Young people who do not have access to other sources of information about sexuality may consume this material uncritically, treating it as sex education.

This may encourage them to become dissatisfied with their bodies and to develop unrealistic expectations of sexual encounters. They may feel pressure to participate in types of sexual activity that they do not want.  They may also absorb problematic ideas about consent, as popular pornography rarely depicts women as human beings with their own sexuality, boundaries and rights.

sex-edIt is therefore vital that young people receive accurate, empowering sex education in schools, as well as safe, open environments at home to discuss sexuality. This will help them to better understand what to expect from sex and how to make safe, informed decisions.

Sexual feelings are a normal part of life. Teachers and parents must be careful not to shame young people for the mere fact of having sexual desires or engaging in sexual activity such as masturbation. If adults make young people feel guilty or ashamed, this will only discourage them from seeking further information and support.

We also need more education and discussion about consent to prevent sexual violence and create a society in which everyone is empowered to safely navigate their sexuality.

Ultimately, comprehensive sex education in schools and open discussions at home should discuss pornography and sex without shaming young people, encouraging them to critically assess the images they see and recognise the many differences between pornography and reality.

An edited version of this letter was first published in the Straits Times Forum on 22 September 2014.

Have more women in leadership roles? Govt can set example

By Jolene Tan, Programmes and Communications Senior Manager, Aware

At the recent Singapore Institute of Directors Directors’ Conference, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office Grace Fu urged businesses to include more women in their leadership, even highlighting the names of Singapore-listed companies with no female directors (“Call for capitalism that gives back”; last Thursday).

She also stated that the Government is open to the possibility of imposing a quota for female directors.

We are heartened to see that the need for women in organisational leadership is taken seriously at the highest levels of the Government.

Employers may exclude women from leadership positions for a range of reasons – from poor search processes that rely on “old boys’ networks”, to structural failures to accommodate caregiving, to explicit prejudice.

But businesses that do not include women at the highest levels are depriving themselves of the benefits of a broad talent pool and a wide range of perspectives and experiences.

SG parliamentWe believe that the Government has a valuable opportunity to lead the way by increasing the number of women at the highest levels of political leadership – setting a positive example for businesses and other employers to follow.

At the moment, Ms Fu herself is the only female full minister in a Cabinet of 18 individuals.

No full woman minister has ever had her own ministry. The low levels of women in political leadership drag down Singapore’s position in the World Economic Forum’s annual Global Gender Gap Report, where we consistently rank significantly more highly for women’s economic than political participation.

The need for senior women is especially urgent in the political arena. Our representatives in government need to reflect the wide array of perspectives and experiences that make up our population, to ensure that all our interests are better represented.

Women’s perspectives are by no means uniform. And the Cabinet can never completely reflect every walk of life – politicians must also take the time and effort to understand the experiences of those whose situations differ from theirs.

But increasing women’s representation at the top would signal an important commitment by the Government to promoting truly inclusive leadership.

This letter was first published in the Straits Times Forum on 8 September 2014.

Crowdfunding for the Sexual Assault Care Centre

sacc smallMediaCorp Artiste Zoe Tay and popular actor/comedian Judee Tan speak up in support of AWARE’s Sexual Assault Care Centre (SACC) in two striking videos released online today.  These are the first of several planned video releases accompanying a newly launched crowdfunding campaign aiming to raise $30,000 for the centre by 10 October.

“Sexual assault can happen to anyone,” Zoe Tay tells viewers.  “But no one should have to suffer in silence.”  The video featuring Ms Tay is titled “The Journey: voices of survivors” and it also presents, through voiceovers, the powerful testimonies of several SACC clients.  These brave women speak about their experiences of sexual assault and the role that supportive services have played in their recovery.

“I really believe that if I had some help then [ten years ago], maybe I would recovered sooner,” one client states.  “Maybe I still wouldn’t be battling it ten years on.”

Actor/comedian Judee Tan is working with SACC because of her personal experience with physical and sexual abuse.

“It was a very dark and depression period of my life,” she says.  “And at that time I felt there was no way I could get out of it.  But I did, and that is why I am here today, working with AWARE’s SACC to share this message of hope.”

“With support,” she says on the video, “victims can be survivors.”

SACC, launched in May, is Singapore’s first and only specialist service supporting women who face sexual assault.  It grows out of AWARE’s Sexual Assault Befrienders Service (SABS), which was launched in 2011.  Expanding on the previous work of SABS, SACC features a drop-in centre, with an on-site social worker who can assist clients immediately, even if they walk in without an appointment (open Mon-Fri, 10am to 7pm).

Through its drop-in centre, helpline (6779 0282) and email support (sacc@aware.org.sg), SACC provides free legal advice by an experienced lawyer, therapeutic counselling by specialists and ‘befriender’ services – where a trained befriender accompanies clients to the police station, hospital or court, providing support through processes which can often be difficult and intimidating.

In 2013, 192 women contacted SABS – a 45% jump from the year before. This year we have already heard from 124 women, and the demand shows no sign of slowing.  We urgently need donations to refurbish our drop-in centre and continue providing our safe, free and confidential services.”

The crowdfunding campaign – a first for AWARE – is hosted on crowdfunding platform Causevox.  The organisation seeks to raise $30,000 from the public with a six-week campaign ending on 10 October.  Further video releases are planned, including a Chinese-language video also featuring Zoe Tay.

The campaign video has been produced thanks to the kind support of Abundant Productions, Pangolin Films, Jasmine Ng and a team of volunteer illustrators.

The Crystal Ball was a shining success!

CrystalBall-with-BG-640wAWARE’s annual fundraiser, the Crystal Ball, was a record-breaking success this year! We raised more than $250,000, and with donation-matching from the government, the total rises to more than $550,000 to support AWARE’s programmes and services.

Held at the Regent Hotel on 25 August, the Crystal Ball was sponsored by KOP Properties, Bengawan Solo, Performance Motors, Bayview Hotel and TOTE Board, and attended by more than 400 friends and supporters of AWARE.

It was a night of great food and exceptional entertainment – all for a good cause! AWARE was happy to be joined by Singapore’s hottest band, the Sam Willows, as our opening act for the night, kicking the night off to a great start with two hit songs.

ChestnutsEveryone’s favourite act, the Chestnuts returned to the Ball this year, bringing the house down with their hilarious spoofs of this year’s nominees for the Alamak! Award (our annual “tribute” to the most jaw-dropping sexist instance of the year).

Their comical take on our spectacular nominees left everyone in stitches. They saved the best for last – Jonathan Lim of the Chesnuts made a surprise visit as the “winner” of the Alamak! Award, Dr Lim Tit Meng of Science Centre, come to collect his prize.

We also announced the recipients of the AWARE Awards 2014 – Singapore’s only gender equality awards. Extraordinary activists Vanessa Ho and Theo Chen were named Young Activists of the Year, while PAVE won Anti-Violence Champion and WongPartnership was named Corporate of the Year.

More details about the winners is available here.

The Crystal Ball also saw the launch of AWARE’s first crowdfunding campaign. We are trying to raise $30,000 for the Sexual Assault Care Centre by 10 October. All amounts matter, so please donate generously and share this campaign with your friends and family.

These annual fundraisers are a great opportunity for us to reconnect with old supporters and spread our message to new ones. It is only with the contributions of our supporters and sponsors that we are able to carry on our work for gender equality in Singapore, and the turnout at the Crystal Ball was outstanding.

Thank you all, very much, for supporting AWARE. Keep an eye on our Facebook page for photos from the event!

Roundtable: A Gendered Perspective on Extremisms in the Middle East

Join us for a roundtable on 4 September to explore the conflicts in the Middle East and how they are affecting the lives of ordinary people.

620px-Map_of_Middle_EastThe current state of the Middle East has taken the world by storm. From the oppression of the Palestinians in Gaza to the horrendous crimes of ISIS in Iraq and Syria, there is something to note about the debilitating effects of violence and extremism, particularly in the socio-cultural dimensions. Often, the greatest casualties are women and children. While the political aspects of the present conflicts have been analysed by man, how violence shapes and impacts the development of society needs to be raised.

Date: Thursday, 4 September
Time: 7.30pm
Location: AWARE Centre

Click here to register.

This event is organised by Gender Equality IS Our Culture. GEC works to promote women’s rights as compatible with culture. All to often, monolithic constructions of culture prevent women from enjoying their full human rights. It is time to reclaim culture as gender-equitable

Speaker:

Prof. Syed Farid Alatas is Associate Professor of Sociology at the National University of Singapore. He was previously Head of Malay Studies Department, NUS. His areas of interest are historical sociology, the sociology of social science, the sociology of religion and inter-religious dialogue. Among his publications are Alternative Discourse in Asian Social Science: Responses to Eurocentrism (Sage, 2006) and Applying Ibn Khaldun: The Recovery of a lost Tradition in Sociology (Routledge, 2014).

The session will be chaired by Mohamed Imran, Associate Research Fellow, S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS).

The best and the worst in gender equality

The AWARE awards return!

prizeEstablished in 2011, the annual AWARE awards – Singapore’s only gender equality awards – celebrate the work of outstanding individuals and organisations that have promoted gender equality in Singapore.

The receipients of the AWARE Awards 2014 – two groups and two individuals – were announced at AWARE’s annual fundraising gala, the Crystal Ball, on 25 August. This year, we celebrated two young activists, an anti- violence organisation and a corporation with an outstanding record in diversity.

Unfortunately, Singapore’s road to gender equality is not entirely smooth. The annual Alamak! Award, given out at the same time as the AWARE award, was born as our tongue-in-cheek tribute to the most jaw-dropping, facepalm-worthy sexist moment of the year.

Let’s meet the winners of the 2014 awards!

 

VanessaYoung Activist of the Year – Vanessa Ho

Vanessa is the coordinator of Project X, a social initiative advocating sex workers’ rights in Singapore. At only 26, she develops and runs all the organisation’s activities.

Vanessa also advocates for the rights of transgender women and was instrumental in bringing the international SlutWalk movement to Singapore.

Vanessa is AWARE’s Young Activist of the Year for being a indefatigable advocate on critical issues that often get little attention, and for her amazing passion for equality across the board in Singapore.

 

Young Activist of the Year – Theodore Chen

TheoAt the age of only 12, Theo Chen made waves last year with a strong anti-bullying message that went viral on YouTube, getting more than 200,000 views.

Facing bullying online and at school because viewers of his YouTube channel judged him as gay, Theo recorded a video to everyone to stop judging his sexuality and policing how he should behave as boy.

Theo is a star for speaking up for a cause he believes in at such a young age. We are happy to name him AWARE’s Young Activist of the Year.

 

WongPartnership_LOGO_CMYK_BLACK_10cmCorporate of the Year – WongPartnership

WongPartnership is a strong leader in gender diversity in the legal industry. The firm has an exceptional representation of women in senior management – the ratio of female partners to male is 55:43, and women made up 43% of the Executive Committee. The firm also appointed a female managing partner in 2010, and offers flexi-work options to help staff maintain a healthy work-life balance.

A culture that encourages diversity and supports family, and an exceptionally high representation of women in senior management makes WongPartnership a true leader in workplace diversity.

 

Anti-Violence Champion of the Year – PAVE

PAVE bgPAVE is a pioneer in dealing with family violence in Singapore, providing services against interpersonal violence including counselling, referrals and research.

PAVE is one of the few organisations in Singapore that specialises in working with male perpetrators of violence, trying to challenge their beliefs and introduce positive alternatives. PAVE is also a leader in training other social workers who deal with victims or perpetrators of family violence.

For its exceptional and long-standing work against violence in Singaporean society and support of victims of abuse, PAVE is AWARE’s first Anti-Violence Champion of the Year.

 

Alamak! Award

limtmOur stellar nominees this year were Suresh Damodara, insensitive defence lawyer; the infamous Dr Lim Tit Meng, Chief Executive of Science Centre; and Goldheart Jewellery and Scoot Airline with their sexist advertisements.

After several months of online voting, the winner of the Alamak! Award 2014 is Dr Lim Tit Meng. Dr Lim got 60% of the 1087 votes cast.

He was nominated for an email he sent to all his Science Centre colleagues on International Women’s Day, which included the line:

“I have my reasons why not many women can have the stature to hold the highest position. One of them is simply about the complex nature of women which challenges them with communication barriers in even understanding their own gender well, let alone having to compete or co-labour with the men at work.”

‘Apa Itu Activist?’: A Forum on Civil Society Action & Advocacy

Screen Shot 2014-08-22 at 4.13.38 pmJoin a group of passionate activists in collaboration with Yale-NUS International Relations and Political Association (YIRPA) at ‘Apa Itu Activist? A Forum on Civil Society Action & Advocacy’, an event which brings together members of civil society to share experiences, make connections and become more effective advocates for social change.

Speakers include experienced activists and NGOs, parliamentarians, journalists and more. Explore visions for the future with our panelists (including guest speakers on civil society in Taiwan and Malaysia) and ask questions at Q&A sessions.

  • What could civil society look like? Perspectives from home and abroad
  • Civil society in Singapore: Possibilities and constraints

Date: 20 September 2014
Time: 9am – 12:30pm
Venue: Ngee Ann Kong Si Auditorium at U-Town
Price: $6

To register, please click here.

Organisers: Kokila Annamalai, Izyanti Asa’ari, Kirsten Han, Corinna Lim, Jolene Tan, Jolovan Wham and Yale-NUS International Relations and Political Association (YIRPA).

For more information, including the full programme and biographies of speakers, please click here.

For further questions or concerns, please contact apa.activistforum@gmail.com.

We look forward to seeing you there!

This event is open to the public. Please feel free to share this invitation with anyone who is interested in advocacy in Singapore. 

Roundtable on Trafficking

Join us on Friday, 29 August at 7:30pm for our a roundtable on trafficking. Experts in the field will share their knowledge and experience dealing with trafficking in various contexts.

Our speakers will discuss sex trafficking, labour trafficking and the current StopTraffickingSG Campaign.

2205859730_29babd985f_zMigrant workers are among the most marginalised and exploited groups in Singapore. The lack of legal protection, proper law enforcement, institutional bias and indifference complicates their woes and curtails their ability to get help.

Learn about the newly formed petition for the inclusion of a victim-centered approach to the proposed bill against trafficking in persons to be introduced by Member of Parliament Christopher De Souza.

Event Details:
Date: Friday, 29 August, 2014
Time: 7:30pm
Location: AWARE Centre

Click here to register

Speakers:

Peck Hoon is the campaign manager for the StopTraffickingSG Campaign 2014 and a member of the anti-trafficking team in HOME. Her interest in human rights starts from her international development work in the region including a volunteering stint in Myanmar, working as a trainer with displaced persons in the Thai-Myanmar border and in South Asia managing education and health projects.

Irene Choo is a volunteer with AWARE’s Research & Advocacy as well as a co-ordinator for the “Stop Trafficking SG” campaign. She has a Masters in Financial Economics with University of London and lived in various parts of the world from Malaysia to US and Taiwan before returning to Singapore in 2009. While in Taiwan, she helped initiate “English-Only” coaching in public schools, which provide free English “Conversation“ & “Story-telling” classes for the under-privileged children and parents to help promote an “English friendly” learning environment in the school. Her interest in human rights issues stems from her belief that: “A person’s a person no matter how small” (by Dr Seuss)

Dimitra Messini is an intern at AWARE and also a lawyer from Greece. She has done a lot of pro bono work with victims of domestic and gender based violence, with sex workers and immigrants. She is currently pursuing her Master’s degree in ICU, Tokyo on a scholarship from Rotary International. She decided to move abroad to be able to work internationally and be a part of the international human rights regime.

Creative Writing Workshop on gender and culture

imgresJoin We Can! Campaign and the Gender Equality IS Our Culture! Project for a creative writing programme this September! This creative writing programme is a platform for individuals to use collaborative writing, readings and performing to explore their experiences and perspectives of gender in the Malay-Muslim context.

This programme aims to encourage thought and dialogue on the culture and norms surrounding gender equality and gender-based violence and empower participants from the Malay-Muslim community by giving them a creative outlet to express their opinions, feelings and experiences without any language restrictions on their pieces.

Workshop Details:
Every Friday for four weeks in Sept-Oct
Time: 7-9pm
Venue: Centre 42, 42 Waterloo Street 
Cost: FREE!

For more information and registration, please click here.

Session 1
Friday, 26 September
Introduction of concepts and issues surrounding gender violence, sharing of personal experiences and discussion of social concerns.

Session 2
Friday, 10 October
Introduction of creative writing techniques and forms

Session 3
Friday, 10 October
Working in small groups of 2-3 people to produce short performances on any relevant theme that resonates with the group

Session 4
Friday, 17 October
Sharing and performing of creative pieces with the class


Participants must attend all four sessions of the workshop.

The We Can! Campaign aims to end violence against women by adoption a people-to-people approach and working through Change Makers – individuals who have pledged to lead lives free of violence, and will encourage others to do the same.

Gender Equality IS Our Culture! Is a project to promote women’s rights as compatible with culture. Women are often prevented from enjoying full human rights due to the excuse that their human rights contradict ‘culture’ or ‘traditional values’. This programme addresses monolithic constructions of culture that are dominant in Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore.