2016 Archives

Joseph Schooling and other prominent male leaders pin on white ribbons to show commitment to end violence against women

This post was originally published as a press release on 25 November 2016.

Prominent male leaders in Singapore will don white ribbons this week as part of the White Ribbon campaign, a global movement which unites men and boys to end violence against women and girls.

Organised in view of International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, this year’s chapter sees Olympic gold medallist Joseph Schooling speak out against gender-based violence and highlight the important role that men and boys play in opposing it.

“Now more than ever, men should proudly wear their commitment to end violence against women,” said Joseph Schooling. “Powerful men boasting about sexual assault should not be brushed off as ‘locker room talk’. We need a culture of equality, not disrespect. As an athlete, I want everyone to know that strength does not mean dominance and aggression.”

“Men and boys can do so much through everyday actions to centre respect for all, regardless of gender,” said Kokila Annamalai, organiser and Community Engagement Manager of AWARE. “And for those in positions of influence, setting the tone for a more equal and inclusive society demonstrates that they are strong and effective leaders.”

Promoting positive male role models

The campaign is supported by Canadian High Commission and the Singapore Committee for UN Women, and features an array of events targeted at men and boys. This year’s theme is on the importance of young boys having positive male role models to emulate.

Michael Kaufman, one of the founders of the global White Ribbon campaign, will be visiting Singapore for the White Ribbon events. On 1 and 2 December, Kaufman will be leading the following events:

Men Matter: Breakfast for Leaders – A discussion with prominent male leaders from various backgrounds, including Nominated Member of Parliament, Kok Heng Leun, and Executive Director of National Youth Achievement Award Council, James Soh, exploring creative ways to engage with men in Singapore on ending gender-based violence

Youth Against Sexual Harassment – A workshop with some 30 youth leaders exploring ways that peer education can help prevent sexual violence and create a supportive school environment

How Good Dads Can Change the World – A public talk on the positive effects that participating in caregiving can have on men, their partners and their communities

Fatherhood and the Workplace – An event with corporate leaders, hosted by Deutsche Bank, on how companies can promote active fatherhood and encourage men to play bigger roles in caregiving. A keynote speech by Michael Kaufman will be followed by a panel including Minister Tan Chuan-Jin and key people from several corporate companies.

“Male industry leaders, political figures and celebrities are in a unique position to promote gender equality and oppose violence against women,” said Michael Kaufman, a prominent Canadian public speaker, writer and consultant, whose innovative work focuses on engaging men and boys in promoting gender equality and transforming men’s lives. “An increasing number of men are speaking out, with a message that will resonate with boys and men from all walks of life here in Singapore.”

Involving men and boys in the conversation about gender

The campaign will kick off with ‘White Ribbon Letters’, an initiative where men write letters to a younger boy in their lives about the critical issue of violence against women.

“With the barrage of negative messages about women in the media, in peer groups and elsewhere, young boys need access to male role models who exemplify values of equality and respect that they can emulate,” said Kokila Annamalai.

“‘White Ribbon Letters’ offers a platform for men to provide guidance and mentorship to boys, and for young people to realise that men should speak up against gender violence, and be critical of the popular portrayal of masculinity as aggressive, dominant and violent.”

400 male leaders in Singapore will be given two white ribbons each – one for themselves, and one to share with a young man or boy in their life. Supportive members of the public can also change their social media profile pictures to white ribbons and post a message with the hashtag #WhiteRibbonSG. Within this pool of social media advocates are Joseph Schooling and his father Colin Schooling, nightclub Rupee St James, and social enterprise The Hidden Good.

How Good Dads Can Change the World [Break the Silence | Against Family Violence]

Caregiving transforms men in innumerable positive ways. As men do more of the caregiving, violence against women falls. Delinquency declines. The health, happiness and well-being of men, children and women improve. Couples report better sex lives. Women’s income increases. And domestic conflicts diminish.

In contrast to popular belief, research shows that fathers are as capable as mothers to care for children and develop deep emotional connections with them. When men role model respect and care for women and girls and take part in caregiving, boys grow up to do the same.

With all we now know about the importance of fathers, the status quo has got to change. This White Ribbon Week – a global movement of men committed to ending violence against women – let’s talk about how we can create a society that acknowledges how much men really matter in the home.

Join us for an interactive discussion with Michael Kaufman, co-founder of the White Ribbon campaign and expert on fatherhood, on the far-reaching effects caregiving can have on men, their partners, their children and their communities.

Date: 2 Dec 2016
Time: 6:45 pm – 8:45 pm
Venue: Singapore Committee for UN Women, 352 Tanglin Road, Tanglin International Centre, Conference Room 1, Strathmore Block
RSVP: bit.ly/gooddads

An open letter: Domestic violence should not be condoned or excused

The following is an open letter originally sent to a Bridal Bootcamp event and a speaker who was running a class. A video of the teachings in the class recently went viral, with content that disturbingly communicated domestic violence and illegal confinement.

Dear Sanggar Mustika and Ustazah Su’aidah,

I write as the coordinator of Gender Equality is Our Culture (GEC), a campaign that promotes discussion on gender equality in the Muslim community.

We have been alarmed to learn from the video by “Bridal Bootcamp” SMW, which has been widely shared on Facebook (with 2,800 shares and 71,000 views), that women approaching the bridal company for services for their wedding day are also being taught to condone and accept domestic abuse. We are troubled that someone in a position of influence, as well as a company, would endorse these teachings.

The video shows Ustazah Su’aidah, a religious educator, addressing a group of women (presumably about to get married) about the “dos and don’ts” of being a wife.

Troublingly, these rules emphasised female subservience and male control, to the point of prescribing domestic violence as acceptable conduct from men.

The speaker’s rules for married women include:

“Listening to your husband” – and this is not a two-way obligation to listen, as she emphasises that “women are talkative and don’t listen to their husbands enough”.

“Obeying your husband” – “if he asks for a drink, make it for him. You must oblige if he asks you to don the headscarf or invites you to pray together”. This clearly promotes unequal relationships where women are controlled by and expected to service men, including control of their clothes and religious practice.

“Not talking about marital problems to anyone” (“and if they have to, they must keep it anonymous”) – This injunction isolates women so that they cannot seek support or social connection with others (a position which can be particularly dangerous in situation of abuse).

Arguably most disturbingly, “if a wife commits adultery, a husband is allowed to hit her or lock her in the house until she passes away”. This is an endorsement of physical domestic violence and the criminal acts of assault and wrongful confinement, which are both prohibited under the Penal Code. If a woman commits adultery, her spouse can seek an answer in marriage counselling or the divorce courts – violence should never be the answer.

These ideas threaten equality, respect and life itself. We must all reject attitudes that excuse and enable violence – dehumanising attitudes which can be found in all communities, though sometimes religion and culture are wielded as the rationale for these beliefs.

There are many forms of domestic violence, from physical hurt to social control to financial abuse, but they all leave behind a serious long-term impact on the victims and their families. They can exacerbate health issues, and threaten lives. They should not be tolerated or excused in any way, including under the guise of religion.

“Education” of this kind tells women that abuse is normal, even acceptable. It tells women that they are unworthy of care, agency and independence. It is precisely this sort of message that discourages victims of domestic abuse from seeking help and support.

We do not need more women to feel disempowered, alone in their problems, or pressured to sate their husbands’ every desire, even at the expense of their own well-being. What we need is more women to know their rights (to a violence-free life, to respect and equality); to know that there are avenues for support; and to know that their individual safety, health and desires are valid and important.

Muslim women in Singapore deserve better teachings. The GEC campaign works within the Muslim community to promote diverse cultural experiences that center respect, non-violence and equality. Through GEC’s own initiatives, like our most recent anthology of stories by Muslim women (Perempuan), many have banded together to talk about their own experiences of domestic abuse, ill-treatment and discrimination. We should work together to create a society where our education for women is based on facts, support and compassion, instead of fear, violence and judgment.

We urge you to reform your teachings to promote respect and equality, and to endorse messages of diversity. Should you be interested, we would be happy to engage you with a discussion on how to promote gender equality within the family in the Muslim context.

As this is a matter of public interest and we believe that your sexist messages need to be publicly countered, we will also be publishing a copy of this email online.

Yours faithfully,

Filzah Sumartono

GEC Project Coordinator, AWARE

An open letter to Teenage Magazine

In the November issue of Teenage Magazine, a local lifestyle and entertainment magazine for young people in Singapore, a reader wrote into the Dear Kelly advice column to talk about her experience of rape. You can see the victim-blaming response “Kelly” had given here. The backlash from the public was swift – many wrote and called in to express their shock and concerns, collectively asking the media to live up to higher standards. It’s heartening to know many are ready to speak out loudly against victim-blaming and to call for awareness of what sexual assault victims go through. You can read our letter to the magazine below.

Dear Editor-in-Chief of Teenage Magazine,

I write from gender equality advocacy group AWARE, in relation to the Dear Kelly column of Teenage Magazine’s November issue, which has been the subject of some social media discussion. In this column, “Kelly” responds to a victim of sexual assault, who expresses her distress over her recent experience of rape.

As an organisation which runs Singapore’s only specialist service for victims of sexual assault, the Sexual Assault Care Centre, we are extremely concerned and appalled by the way the article responded to the writer. This is especially because your magazine is targeted at teenage girls, some of whom might have experienced sexual assault. A survey we conducted found that one in three young people in Singapore have experienced some form of sexual violence – it is a significant part of young people’s social environment.

The tone throughout the column was condescending and unsupportive. Every line blamed the victim for being sexually assaulted. “Kelly” sent the wrong and harmful message that by going to someone’s house, by agreeing to stay over, or by kissing and cuddling someone, the victim had somehow automatically consented to further sexual activity. In fact, consent needs to be acquired at every stage of physical intimacy – if a person is too drunk or intoxicated to give fully voluntary agreement, they are not legally able to give consent. Sexual intercourse that happens under such situations amounts to rape – not, in “Kelly’s” minimising language, a mere “case of two teens totally misunderstanding each other”.

Secondly, “I don’t blame him for thinking you were not a virgin. You acted like a girl who has been around” is under no circumstance an acceptable response to a traumatised victim of sexual assault. After someone has experienced such an assault, why are you focusing on whether she has had any other sexual experience, and implying that this is somehow shameful or wrong? Your remarks contain the dangerous implication that it is acceptable to sexually assault someone who has had sexual experience, or that consent to one sexual encounter is a blanket consent to all others in the future. (Fortunately, our law is very clear that this is not the case.)

The title of the article is particularly disturbing. “Raped after lying to parents” focuses on the alleged wrongdoing or untrustworthiness of the victim, and suggests that the sexual assault is a kind of punishment or consequence. In reality, sexual assault happens because the perpetrator chooses to disregard consent, and not due to any other peripheral decisions made by the victim. No amount of truth-telling will stop a rapist.

In Singapore as globally, sexual assault is one of the most underreported crimes. Many victims cite disbelieving and unsupportive attitudes from their peers and family as a major reason why they choose not to report the crime. “Kelly’s” column would very likely discourage readers from reporting their own sexual assaults, as it would reinforce their expectation of judgmental and unsupportive responses. The column also role models an extremely negative mode of response which may influence whether young people offer empathetic support – or condescending judgment – to one another.

We therefore strongly urge that you publish an apology in the next issue. Rather than berate and judge victims of sexual assault, you should send the clear message that rape and sexual assault is never the victim’s fault, and encourage them to seek support and help. One potential resource is our Sexual Assault Care Centre, the contact details of which are set out below.

If you wish to learn more about sensitive responses to sexual assault, we would be happy to offer our training programme for first responders, where your team can learn more about the social and psychological realities of sexual assault, and how peers, family and authorities should respond in order to support victims and aid their recovery.

I know that it is not always easy to receive criticism, but your young readers – and society at large – deserves media outlets that act with responsibility and empathy. I look forward to hearing from you about what action you will take to address these concerns. Should you have any questions or concerns, we would be very happy to discuss them.

As this is a matter of public interest and we believe that your victim-blaming messages need to be publicly countered, we will also be publishing a copy of this email online.

Yours faithfully,

Jolene Tan
Head of Advocacy & Research, AWARE

SACC contact details

6779 0282
Monday – Friday, 10am till midnight
Call us to speak to a trained volunteer and receive support through the phone. You can also make an appointment to speak to a social worker, counsellor, lawyer or ask for a befriender to accompany you to the police station, courts or hospital.

sacc@aware.org.sg
You can also reach us by email. Replies will be sent within 1-2 working days.

5 Dover Crescent #01-22, Monday-Friday, 10am-7pm
Visit our drop-in centre to seek on-site support. A case worker would walk you through your various options and help you make decisions for your next steps. No appointment is necessary.

For emergencies please call 999 for the police. Please call 1800 221 4444 for the Samaritans of Singapore (SOS) if you have thoughts of hurting yourself, including thoughts of suicide.

Other responses to the piece:

https://www.facebook.com/verkurr/posts/672084536293126?pnref=story
https://www.facebook.com/GSpotSG/posts/1166565636760648
https://www.facebook.com/kixes/posts/504074326053?match=dGVlbmFnZSBtYWdhemluZSxtYWdhemluZSx0ZWVuYWdl

Parliament Questions relevant to AWARE’s work

Here is a compiled and updated list of questions raised in Parliament that are related to AWARE’s work, or are of concern to our organisation.

3 March 2017 – Paternity leave

Mr Seah Kian Peng asked the MSF how many eligible working fathers have applied for a full week of paid paternity leave in 2016; and what is the percentage of applications from the Civil Service. Read their response.

20 February 2017 – Forensic medical examination for sexual assault victims

Mr Chen Show Mao asked MHA whether victims of sex crimes are required to make a police report before they can get a forensic medical examination done and, if so, why; and whether this examination is only available at three hospitals in Singapore and, if so, why is this not more widely available. Read MHA’s response.

8 February 2017 – Eldershield

Assoc Prof Daniel Goh Pei Siong asked MOH about the total ElderShield premiums paid; total surplus collected by the ElderShield insurers; total surplus returned to members as premium rebates; and payout ratio and profit margin of each of the ElderShield insurers. Read their response.

6 February 2017 – Maternity leave

Ms Sun Xueling asked the MOM in 2016, how many women have notified the Ministry that they have been asked by their employer not to return to work after the end of their maternity leave and whether this number shows an increasing trend in the past two years. Read their response here.

6 February 2017 – Government paid adoption leave

Mr Louis Ng asked the Prime Minister whether the Government-Paid Adoption Leave (GPAL) can (i) be converted into shared leave which parents can allocate between themselves as they choose, instead of being open to mothers only and (ii) be extended to parents (both mothers and fathers) who adopt children above the age of 12 months old. Read their reply.

6 February 2017 – Specialist team for suicide cases

Mr Kok Heng Leun asked MSF whether the Ministry will consider having a specialist team who provides psychological support and mental health expertise to go with the police when the police responds to cases of attempted suicide. Read MSF’s reply.

6 February 2017 – LTVP and foreign spouses

Mr Kok Heng Leun asked MOH whether the Ministry will consider giving Long-Term Visit Pass (LTVP) holders who are married to Singapore citizens, similar health subsidies as LTVP Plus holders. Read MOH’s reply.

6 February 2017 – Eldercare leave

Ms Kuik Shiao-Yin asked the Minister for Health on the outcome of the Ministry’s study on legislating eldercare leave for employees; the barriers that impede legislation of eldercare leave; and how many working caregivers do not have eldercare leave and how many working caregivers quit work to care for an elderly family member fulltime. Read MOH’s reply.

6 February 2017 – Income cap for rental housing

Mr Louis Ng asked MND how many applicants above the income cap for rental flats have applied for rental flats and how many of such applications have been approved. Read MND’s reply.

6 February 2017 – Adults with disabilities

Mr Darryl David asked MSF what options are available for the long-term care of adults with intellectual disabilities when the parents/caregivers of these adults pass away or are unable to care for them any more. Read MSF’s reply.

6 February 2017 – Childcare

Mr Ang Hin Kee asked MSF whether more support can be given to parents who have to make alternative arrangements when their children are unable to attend school and how effective has the Ministry been in tackling challenges faced by parents who have insufficient childcare leave. Read MSF’s reply.

6 February 2017 – Registry of sex offenders

Dr Lim Wee Kiak asked MHA how many cases of child sex offences have been reported in the past 5 years, what’s being done to reduce such crimes and whether there are plans to create a sex offender registry with limited access given to agencies and communities that can benefit from the information. Read MHA’s reply.

9 January 2017 – Income cap for rental of public housing

Mr Louis Ng asked the Minister for National Development whether the Ministry will consider raising the current income cap of $1,500 for public rental housing in view of the rising cost of living and the higher income caps of Government subsidies such as the child care/infant care subsidy and ComCare Short-to-Medium Term Assistance. Read MND’s reply.

9 January 2017 – Attempted suicide

Mr Leon Perera asked MHA of the evidence that suggests that section 309 of the Penal Code deters attempted suicides; and efforts taken by the Government to ensure that this law does not deter those who entertain suicidal thoughts from seeking help. Read MHA’s reply.

9 November 2016 – Protections against abuse of IMH staff

Ms K Thanaletchimi asked the Minister for Home Affairs whether the Institute of Mental Health (IMH) can have a police post with police vigilance to protect and safeguard the interests of IMH staff who may be threatened or subjected to physical abuse by unwell patients in a high-risk environment. Read MHA’s reply here.

7 November 2016 – Decriminalisation of suicide

Ms Kuik Shiao-Yin asked the Minister for Home Affairs on Singapore’s support of the criminalisation of suicide and the rehabilitation framework available for those charged with attempted suicide. Read MHA’s reply here.

7 November 2016 – Treatment of those in custody for attempted suicide

Mr Louis Ng asked the MHA about the measures used to arrest those who were taken into custody for attempted suicide, the duration of their lock-up, impact on their well-being and referrals to SOS and IMH. Read MHA’s reply here.

7 November 2016 – Serious Sexual Crimes Branch

Mr Chen Show Mao asked the MHA about the number of officers assigned to the Serious Sexual Crimes Branch of the CID, staffing rationale, annual number of cases and criteria for referrals. Read MHA’s reply here.

10 October 2016 – Arrests made for suicide attempts

MP Louis Ng had posed a question on how many arrests have been made in 2015 for attempted suicides, police protocol and trainings for such arrests and if the Ministry will consider having police suicide prevention practices that do not involve arrests. Read the written reply in full here.

In 2014, 901 people in Singapore were arrested for attempted suicide. Astonishingly, that figure is higher than arrests for virtually every other major offence in this chart, including outrage of modesty, rioting, serious hurt, housebreaking, robbery, snatch theft, rape, and theft of motor vehicle.

Source: https://data.gov.sg/dataset/islandwide-persons-arrested-for-selected-major-offences

In our recent report, we called for the reform of suicide laws and the improvement of support systems for those in distress – specifically, it seeks the reform and eventual repeal of Section 309 of the Penal Code, which makes attempted suicide an offence.

The report includes accounts from women that AWARE spoke to, who had negative experiences with law enforcement action related to Section 309, including traumatising investigations, fear of seeking help and mocking, unsupportive officers. Read our report here.

13 September 2016 – Foreign Spouses policies

There have been many questions of concern raised in parliament about the denial of PR status for non-Singaporean parents of citizen children. NMP Kuik Shiao-Yin had asked: what are the precise circumstances that justify giving a child citizenship but denying their parents PR status? When would you put the parent-child relationship at such risk?

No specific answer was given. The Ministry said that for divorced or widowed foreign parents, the state “would generally facilitate their continued stay… through a renewable LTVP or LTVP+, to allow them to care for their children here”. This is an extremely begrudging recognition of the value of the parent-child bond and caregiving. What happens to the parent when the child grows up?

In another written reply, the Ministry of National Development said: “If the non-citizen widow or widower has Singaporean children who are minors, HDB can consider exercising flexibility, on a case-by-case basis, for the flat to be held in trust by a Singaporean or PR trustee, on the condition that the flat is to be given to the Singaporean children when they reach 21 years old.”

Imagine: you are just bereaved, and you may lose your home – also home to your young children. You face the stress of appealing to HDB to exercise their opaque discretion to let you stay. If you can stay, it is under the legal power of another citizen/PR – hopefully there is someone you can have trust and confidence in. And when your children turn 21, after you have brought them up as a single parent, you remain dependent on them for access to housing. Are these arrangements which value and support parents and caregivers?

Read the related replies at the links below:

Protection for foreign spouses and children when marriages with Singapore citizens break down

Ownership of HDB flat of deceased Singaporeans with foreign spouses and children

Foreigners Married to SCs and their Success in PR Applications

Singaporeans under 21 years of Age Residing in Singapore with a non-PR Foreign Parent

13 September 2016 – Policies affecting single parents

There have been some questions raised in Parliament on the rationale behind the policy of not recognising children of unwed mothers as “legitimate” children.

The parliament’s view is: “Where benefits or laws differentiate on legitimacy status, they reflect the Government’s desire to promote strong marriages. Parenthood within marriage is the desired and prevailing social norm, which we want to continue to promote as this is key to having strong families.”

It is very strange to say that “strong families” or any kinds of values relating to marriage or parenthood can be bolstered by denying so-called “illegitimate children” equal inheritance rights, Baby Bonus cash gift and tax reliefs. How do these measures foster or promote any kind of deep-rooted norms? What positive values are inculcated by creating extra hardships and difficulties for vulnerable people – which at the same time can apparently be administratively or legally circumvented by cumbersome approaches like wills, appeals to MPs or (it seems, possibly) attempts at adoption?

Read the full written answer by the Ministry of Social and Family Development here.

“Controversial” issues need more voices, not fewer

An edited version of this letter was published in The Straits Times on 10 November 2016.

The latest changes to conditions for Speaker’s Corner events and indoor assemblies suggest a troubling closing off to different perspectives (“Keeping domestic issues for locals”, 1 Nov).

Citizens have the greatest stake here. The most fundamental rights of decision-making, the rights to vote and stand for political office, are therefore reserved by nationality.

However, a bright line is not necessary when it comes to hearing different points of view.

We find that our work has much in common with gender equality advocacy all over the world. The movement for women’s rights is a global one, and we benefit from mutual learning and support with foreign counterparts.

In the context of regulated speech in Singapore, the possibility of nefarious foreign manipulation through speech should not be exaggerated.

To be exempted from police permits, Speaker’s Corner events and indoor assemblies must in any case feature exclusively Singaporean speakers and organisers.

Restrictions on foreign funding thus hamper events that are controlled by citizens to begin with. Rather than remove foreign voices, this makes it harder for locals to be heard.

In the case of Pink Dot, sponsorship was transparent – the foreign companies were not masquerading as local. People who regard foreign support with suspicion could form their own opinions accordingly.

Are the new rules inspired by an inaccurate belief that LGBT experiences have a foreign origin? Southeast Asia has a rich history of gender and sexuality diversity.

Even if foreign support brings in new perspectives, is this undesirable?

The Singapore state itself recognises the value of international perspectives on social matters. For instance it joins global treaties on the rights of women, children and people with disabilities. Recently, it invited a United Nations expert on the rights of older people to visit.

If the state shares feedback with other countries on various matters, why shouldn’t the people engage in mutual exchange and support with foreigners?

Foreigners, as residents, have particular stakes in some issues. Domestic workers and their compatriots have compelling reasons to support events discussing their experiences. Similarly, foreign spouses of citizens may wish to engage issues that affect them and their citizen children.

Society benefits from chances to connect over contested issues in person, not only online. Rather than policing who speaks and who supports them, let us hear what they say. It is better to hear too many voices than too few.

AWARE at Freedom Film Festival 2016

Function 8 is hosting the annual Freedom Film Festival on 19 and 20 November! Happening at The Projector, AWARE’s research executive, Chong Ning Qian, will be speaking at two film discussions – Unsilent Potato and Pertanyaan Untuk Bapak (A Question for my Father) – both dealing with the topic of sexual assault and rape. Click here for more details.

Unsilent Potato

Potato’ is a young disabled Karen ethnic girl. In 2014, she was raped by her neighbor, a married man and later gave birth to a baby boy. She was determined to seek justice instead of accepting monetary compensation from the man who had raped her. The case was deferred until 2016 when the family finally decided to let the world know of Potato’s devastating story to raise awareness about the rights of women and the disabled. Potato describes her deep sorrow, despair and frustration through her sketches.

A Question for my Father (Pertanyaan Untuk Bapak)

This documentary tells the journey of a man finding his biological father who had used to rape him when he was a boy. Yatna now in his 30s and also the co-director of this film confronts his father with his question. The film portrays his courage in making this heart-breaking trip.

Members-only: Extraordinary General Meeting on 26 November

We have been reviewing our policies on membership and gender to study whether men should be allowed to vote and to serve on the Board. [1]

The Board has completed the review and we are proposing changes that include allowing male members (and members who do not identify as female) to vote and to serve on the board, subject to certain limits.

Our main reason for this is that while there is still much to be done to improve women’s rights, status and participation, men must be involved in this effort. The social and political climate in Singapore is changing and AWARE should be ready to keep pace with these changes.

We have taken into consideration the views of members who fear that allowing men to vote and to sit on the Board will dilute AWARE’s work on women’s rights and status, and threaten its important function of being a place where women can feel safe and can learn to lead.

These are very valid concerns, but we believe that they can be addressed with the limits placed on Associate Members’ rights to vote and to sit on the Board.

We will hold a members’ forum on Saturday 26 November to discuss in full the proposed changes. After this forum, also on 26 November, there will an EGM to vote on the proposals. Many other important Constitutional amendments are also being proposed at the EGM. The link to the formal Notice of the EGM is set out below.

We urge members to attend the forum and EGM so that all arguments for and against the proposals can be heard and debated, and decisions made.

PROGRAMME

This is the programme for the Forum and the EGM on Saturday, 26 November at the AWARE Centre:

10.00 a.m. Registration. Morning coffee and snacks will be served

10.30 a.m. Members’ Forum

12.30 p.m. Lunch

1.30 p.m. EGM

We expect the EGM to end by 5 pm. However, there is a chance that it may end later to complete the discussion and voting on all the Constitutional amendments that are being tabled.

In addition to the amendments relating to men’s rights to vote and to serve on the Board, the EGM will also deal with proposals to amend and update the Constitution in many important respects. The main changes that will be tabled are as follows:

Change of the name of the organization from “Association of Women for Action & Research” to “AWARE”;
Update of Objective, Values and Functions of AWARE to more accurately reflect its current approach and work;
Change of the names of AWARE’s membership categories;
Male members to be given rights to vote, subject to a cap of 25% of the total votes.
Male members to be given rights to serve as Ordinary Members on the Board, but not as Office Bearers. In addition, they are subject to the same cap as Female Associate Members i.e. 25% of the total number of Board seats.
Change of board election procedures from a system where the General Meeting votes on each position to a system where the General Meeting votes in the President and eight (8) other Board Members, and the newly constituted Board decides on and appoints the Office Bearers and the Ordinary Board Members from among the eight board members.
Clarification of AGM, nomination, elections, voting and banking procedures.
Extension of Life Membership to all members.

Please refer to the Table of Changes (see link below) for all the changes.

PLEASE COME AND HAVE YOUR SAY

The EGM on 26 November is an important one for AWARE. At the heart of the debate are these questions:

What are the best ways for AWARE to stay relevant, progressive, and strategic?
Is AWARE about women’s rights or about gender equality, or both?
How can AWARE continue to provide a safe space for women while expanding the space for men to play an active part to contribute to its mission?

DOCUMENTS

Please find attached:

A copy of our current Constitution can be found at http://bit.ly/awaresgconst

The Constitution, with proposed changes marked up, is available at: http://bit.ly/awaresgrev

Please RSVP by Tuesday, 15 November so we can make the necessary seating and catering arrangements. You may do this by sending an email to membership@aware.org.sg or by registering online at https://aware.org.sg/files/egm2016.html. Please let us know if you will be attending the Members Forum or the EGM, or both events.

If you have any questions, please email our membership manager, Jesvinder Kaur at membership@aware.org.sg

AWARE puts the spotlight on women’s economic empowerment at its annual ball

This post was originally published as a press release on 17 October 2016.

Gender equality group AWARE asked guests at its annual gala dinner this year to dig deep into their pockets to support lower-income women.

The donation pledge theme at the WORLD Ball 2016, held on 17 October at the St Regis Singapore, was ‘Building Dreams’.

Some 400 guests were told of a new programme to help lower-income women break the cycle of poverty. A collaboration between AWARE and non-profit group Daughters Of Tomorrow, the programme provides women with back-to-work support comprising confidence-building, skills-training, job placements, mentorship, and entrepreneurial support.

AWARE aims to raise $300,000 from the donation pledges, a silent auction and lucky dip, and the net proceeds from the sale of tables at the gala dinner. The money raised will also go towards AWARE’s research and advocacy efforts for more supportive policies and services for lower-income women.

“The WORLD Ball is a fantastic opportunity to make a real difference to the lives of lower-income women,” said Corinna Lim, Executive Director of AWARE.

“In Singapore, women remain the primary caregivers of children and the elderly, and continue to be especially vulnerable to poverty as a result of financial instability. It is important to develop the necessary support structures for them to be empowered to confidently look for and keep employment should they need to. The positive impact doesn’t end with them; their families benefit as well.”

Recognising champions of gender equality and women’s empowerment

Every year since 2011, AWARE has, with the AWARE Awards, celebrated individuals and organisations that promote gender equality in Singapore. The categories of the awards vary from year to year.

This year, two of the four awards were for being a Champion for Women’s Economic Empowerment.

Receiving the award for an organisation is Bettr Barista, a social enterprise that trains women and youths from low-income families and marginalised backgrounds in technical coffee skills. In the individual category, Sarah Tan received the award for single-handedly supporting over 50 mothers and children through her bao-selling business.

The other two awards were for Champion for Gender Equality and Justice. In the individual category, the award went to Kirsten Han, an influential local journalist and activist. The other recipient was The T Project, the only organisation and crisis shelter in Singapore that caters to transgender people .

“The competition was tough this year,” said AWARE Awards judge Professor Tommy Koh, who is the Ambassador-at-large at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Professor Koh has been on the judging panel of the AWARE Awards since 2011.

“All the nominees have done outstanding work and are true change-makers in their own right. Our winners this year showcase diversity, perseverance and genuine passion in their own unique causes, all of which contribute greatly to a more just society. We are proud to recognise their achievements.”

2016’s Alamak! Award winner

Even as we work hard to foster gender equality, there are some who hamper its progress in Singapore. The Alamak! Award was created to “honour” these people – our tongue-in-cheek tribute to the most jaw-dropping, facepalm-worthy sexist moment of the year.

Nominees for the Alamak! Award were submitted by the public and shortlisted by AWARE staff. The “winner” was chosen through online voting on AWARE’s website.

The stellar nominees this year were victim-blaming lawyer Edmund Wong, the controversial initial acquittal of child-abuser Zunika Ahmad, Eagle Infotech for their poorly designed WSQ course exercise, and the infamous misogynist NUS camp organisers.

The public has spoken and there is a clear winner! With 71% of the 500 votes cast, the winner of the Alamak! Award 2016 is Edmund Wong.

Lawyer Edmund Wong is infamous for his inappropriate remarks in a courtroom to a victim of sexual assault. He asked the woman to stand up while she was on the witness stand so her physical attractiveness could be assessed, and he argued that her attractiveness could have caused the ‘temptation’ to molest.

His behaviour even drew flak from Law Minister K. Shanmugam, who said, “This happens in many places in the world, with court processes which, in my view, are not sufficiently sensitive to what victims have gone through.”

Read more about the AWARE Award winners and Alamak! Award nominees in the Annexes below.

Annex A
AWARE Award Winners 2016

Champions for Gender Equality & Justice

Kirsten Han

Freelance journalist and activist Kirsten Han has eloquently used hard-hitting journalism to raise the bar on human rights reports and social commentaries, and centre discussions of gender in social and political conversation in Singapore. Her vocal support of migrant and domestic workers, sex workers, single parents and diverse family structures has been an influential force in steering local discourse. With over 140 published stories in 35 publications, she is a force to be reckoned with.

During the 2015 General Elections, Kirsten steered public attention to the issue of gender. She highlighted the gender imbalance in candidates, offensive remarks about motherhood, stereotypes about women, and lack of racial minority women. She has also bravely and consistently put the spotlight on sexist harassment and trolling of women who are public figures. She is a huge positive force who empowers the vulnerable and marginalised, and makes visible the human faces behind stories that are often swept under the rug.

The T Project

The T Project is the only local organisation and shelter that caters especially to the transgender community. Founded by sisters June Chua and the late Alicia Chua in 2014, their multi-pronged approach of public education, job-creation and crisis shelter, has led to greater public awareness of the lives of transgender people, in particular, transgender women, in Singapore.

Many transgender individuals are kicked out of their homes or abused and rejected by their family and peers, leading to isolation, homelessness and poverty. The T Project provides an immediate safe space for them to seek shelter and find support, as many crisis shelters have limitations on admitting trans folks who have not undergone gender reassignment surgery. For the eight residents they have housed over the last two years, most of whom are women, The T Project was a refuge from a society that was unsafe and unwelcoming for them. June has big plans for the new shelter, which was a result of a successful crowdfunding campaign, and intends to develop a resource and drop-in centre run by transgender volunteers and staff. The T Project has been a leading voice in acceptance of gender identities beyond the binary, amplifying the powerful stories of transgender women – and transgender men – whose struggles are too often omitted from the narrative of gender equality.

Champion for Women’s Economic Empowerment (Individual)

Sarah Tan

Choon Ming Bao Dian, run by 52-year-old Sarah Tan, is more than just a snack shop. Sarah Tan sells bao in order to support and create jobs for single mothers, homeless youth and migrant workers. She has been taking these people into her own home for eleven years.

With up to 13 bao stalls all over Singapore at the height of her success, Sarah Tan’s informal social work, which is not done in collaboration with any government or private organisation, has supported over 50 people, most of whom are mothers and children in need, since 2005. Madam Tan’s work has enabled these women to push through hardship and develop greater ownership over their lives. Of the 50 people she has taken in over the years, more than 10 have worked in her bao stalls. Although she had to close ten of her 13 stalls due to financial issues, Madam Tan is determined to bounce back. Her grit and persistence, together with the outpouring of logistical support from members of the public, will certainly see her bao business flourishing again.

Champion for Women’s Economic Empowerment (Institutional)

Bettr Barista

Founded in 2011 by social entrepreneur Pamela Chng, Bettr Barista Coffee Academy has trained over 50 individuals, majority being women and youths, from low-income families and marginalised backgrounds, in technical coffee education and other life skills. The selected applicants go through the six-month Bettr Holistic Training Programme where they are given an international-standard coffee education to get them work-ready in the specialty coffee industry. They also go through a customised emotional resilience programme to change mindsets and build confidence, and a physical training programme comprising self-defence training, yoga and outrigger canoeing. The programme incorporates a paid ten-week internship and culminates in three months of full-time work at partner cafes.

The impact of their programme has been considerable. They estimate that a total of 165 dependents have benefited through the programme’s 38 graduates. The skills that participants acquire are immensely helpful not just to them, but also to the children, parents and siblings they often have to support. Bettr Barista looks set to continue to impact the lives of many disadvantaged women and youth, at the same time creating a strong model for local social enterprises to follow.

Annex B
AWARE Award Winners 2016

Acquittal of Zunika Ahmad

In April, a transgender man was cleared of sexual penetration of a minor (despite pleading guilty!) because the Court decided that the accused, Zunika Ahmad, could not be held accountable for his actions through this offence (though he was convicted of other charges). In the Judge’s view, the language of the Penal Code requires the perpetrator to have a penis. A terrible outcome for many reasons, but particularly bizarre because the law the Judge cited was introduced specifically to address the issue of ‘female sexual abuse of male minors’ (words from Parliament, not us!). This case took us ten steps backward for fairness and justice, setting a bad legal precedent. Thankfully the Court of Appeal have recently overturned this controversial acquittal so things have been set right!

Eagle Infotech Consultants

How best to teach workplace diversity and inclusion, or communications and negotiation skills? Not like this: a WSQ course exercise from Eagle Infotech asked managers to choose which of a list of workers to fire – giving only information about their race, religion, marital status, sexual orientation and political affiliations. Reading the questions, you’d think that healthy, non-judgmental discussions should not centre on staff’s identities – are they a “talented (…) homosexual”? A “woman with very strong views” (yikes, not one of those!)? Or a“former member of the Worker’s Party”? With barely a word about performance or ability, what were the trainees meant to discuss?

Lawyer, Edmund Wong

In another courtroom-related facepalm moment, lawyer Edmund Wong, representing the defendant in a sexual assault case, asked the victim to stand up while on the witness stand. He stared at her breasts and made inappropriate remarks about their size. When she protested, he said that her physical attractiveness could have caused the “temptation” to molest. The victim was visibly affected. Thank goodness for the Judge who censured Wong’s outrageous line of questioning. Wong even defended himself later on by saying, “I didn’t ask what her chest measurements are.” ALAMAK! Who let this guy have a law degree?!

Misogynist NUS Camp Organisers

While many college orientation camp activities have been widely known to be deeply inappropriate and misogynist, some organisers at NUS took their disregard for consent and respect much further – with lurid, detailed re-enactments of rape scenes, horrid and intrusive questions about who is “sluttiest”, and push-ups on top of unwilling women. Some participants said it was “a scary experience”, and that they “wanted to get out so badly”. Hardly a fun time bonding! We hope NUS will seize this opportunity to educate their students on consent, sexual violence and respect.

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Year: 2016