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Year: 2024

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15 years later, we still won’t shut up and sit down

On May 31, 2024, a group of AWARE members and supporters gathered to celebrate a significant moment in Singapore’s civil society history: the 2009 AWARE saga. The night was filled with storytelling, laughter, and a powerful sense of shared purpose. 

In 2009, AWARE faced a dramatic takeover, where a group of newcomers joined the organisation and unexpectedly won control of the board during the Annual General Meeting. It quickly became clear that they, the “New Guard”, who were from a particularly religious group, had ulterior motives for doing so, coming from principles that did not align with AWARE’s ethos. 

AWARE’s core members, the “Old Guard”, spun into action, to save AWARE’s mission as an organisation committed to gender equality. They eventually called for an EOGM (Extraordinary General Meeting) on May 2, 2009, when the Old Guard triumphantly led the 3,000 strong membership in ousting the New Guard and electing a new Board.

That fateful event inspired the award-winning SAGA podcast in 2020  and has continued to spark discussions to this day about diversity, speaking up, solidarity, and social justice in Singapore.

Last week’s 15-year reunion kicked off with an open mic session, where key figures from the EOGM shared their thoughts and memories. Former AWARE president Dana Lam (left) delivered a speech that resonated deeply with the audience. 

She highlighted the “radical space” that AWARE has always embodied and how the events at the EOGM exemplified the organisation’s thoughtful and empowering approach. 

She also pointed out that the EOGM served as a powerful demonstration of the unique contributions women can bring to leadership, showcasing qualities like thoroughness, care, and good humour.

Constance Singam (main photo), an AWARE founding member and an iconic character of the saga, took to the floor as well. At the EOGM, Constance had rallied the crowd with her now-famous “Where were you?” speech, where she questioned the New Guard’s experience and intentions behind the takeover. 

“We struggled, but we fought on,” Constance said. 

“One thing I tell everyone I meet is that you have to be an activist. You cannot stand on the sidelines. It will give you skills and courage you never thought you had.”

Remy Choo (below, left) was a law student back in 2009. He reported for The Online Citizen during the EOGM and also took to the mic. He expressed his enduring gratitude to the AWARE community.

“The people who put the chips down, and had something at stake [were the AWARE community]. They spoke up for and defended something that they believed in: equality and an idea of how society should be that was different from existing power structures,” Remy said. “And for that… I am eternally grateful.” 

Another attendee, Elijah Tay (above, right), who was too young to attend the EOGM, was deeply inspired by the podcast, and spoke about the “fired up” spirit of the movement and the commitment to protecting hard-won rights. 

The night wasn’t just about reliving the past. 

Dana also touched upon the positive ripple effects of the EOGM. She highlighted how the saga has empowered younger generations to step up and organise around issues they care about, lessening the burden on AWARE to be the sole champion for all causes. 

Corinna Lim (right), our Executive Director, highlighted the many significant changes that Singapore has seen since 2009, on issues AWARE has advocated for. 

Key wins include the Protection from Harassment Act (2014), fairer policies for unwed and single mothers (2016-2020), amendments to the Penal Code, enhancing the sexual assault laws and criminalising marital rape (2019), the expanded definition of family violence to cover emotional and psychological violence and coercive control (2023), and the doubling of paternity leave (2023).

This year (2024) will also see the Workplace Fairness Act come into play and the right for employees to ask for flexible working arrangements. 

Looking ahead, Constance said it was so nice to see an increasing number of young people taking up activism in Singapore.

“Young people now have more courage to speak up, and they are more articulate and knowledgeable than I ever was.” 

The reunion served as a powerful reminder of the impact the 2009 AWARE saga had on Singapore’s civil society landscape. It was a night of celebration, not just of the past but of the progress that has been made and the ongoing pursuit of positive change. 

CEDAW pushes Singapore on Intersectional Equality

UN review shines spotlight on Muslim women’s rights, Migrant Workers’ rights, and LGBTQI in Singapore.

The United Nations Committee on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) recently reviewed Singapore’s progress towards achieving gender equality.

Ms. Sun Xueling, Minister of State in the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Social and Family Development, gave an excellent presentation at the UN, and Singapore was rightfully praised by the CEDAW committee for its progress in the last seven years.

While the Singapore Government’s report highlighted advancements in gender equality, the CEDAW Committee identified several areas where further action is needed.

In the Committee’s opening statement, they said: “While the general promise in Article 12.1 of the Constitution of Singapore that ‘all persons are equal before the law and entitled to equal protection of the law’, is extremely important, the lack of sex as an unjustified basis for discrimination in Article 12.2 is more than troubling. 

“Leaving such a major issue to Supreme Court interpretation is problematic.”

The Committee also questioned if women’s issues were looked at through an intersectional lens in Singapore. They said that while the White Paper on Singapore Women’s Development addresses women in vulnerable situations, “it seems that vulnerability is viewed as a personal trait, such as for women who have yet to find a spouse.”

They continued: “We would argue, however, that even this alleged life circumstance is crucial if men prefer to import traditional wives from less developed countries rather than marry educated and employed Singaporean women. 

“Indigenous intersectionality is a social-based, rather than a personal-based, concept. Attention should be given to women who suffer discrimination caused by the intersectionality of their gender with additional group-based discrimination. 

“In particular, other groups such as LGBTQI women are not mentioned again in the law—in the constitution—so I would ask the state party to explain to the committee how they plan to systematically and comprehensively integrate an intersectional lens into the gender equality jurisprudence.”

Breaking Down Gender Stereotypes at Home and Work

The Committee urged the government to consider imposing Temporary Special Measures (i.e., quotas) to accelerate the increase in female representation in leadership positions, saying that this has worked in other countries and that it was not their experience that it resulted in tokenism.

The Committee also called on Singapore to address persistent sexist stereotypes that hinder women’s career choices, perpetuate domestic burdens, and limit equal opportunities. An expert recognised the difficulties “to change patriarchal mindsets and build healthy ideals of masculinity” and added that Singapore needs to eliminate sexist stereotypes.

The Singapore delegation, led by Ms. Sun, responded by saying that the government is putting in place a strategy to improve familial norms, with a focus on encouraging men to share domestic responsibilities, particularly through the implementation of paternity leave. Within schools, students are encouraged to challenge sexist stereotypes propagated by the media and taught to value people based on their traits and talents.

The Committee mentioned in their opening remarks that while they were happy to hear of the upcoming Workplace Fairness Legislation, “legislation that covers discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation, gender identity, and sex characteristics is in order, including in the labour force, if equality for all is to be secured.”

“Not only are these grounds not mentioned in the constitution, but to my understanding, the new law proposal related to discrimination in the labour force does not include LGBTQ+-based discrimination and, furthermore, would not cover migrant workers, which is of great concern taking into account their high number in the state party,” they added.

Concerns Over Migrant Domestic Worker Protections

In their presentation to the Committee, the NGO Humanitarian Organisation for Migration Economics (HOME) emphasised the vulnerability of migrant domestic workers (MDW), including: [1] lack of bodily autonomy, especially with regards to pregnancy, for MDWs; [2] exclusion from the Employment Act, which deprives MDWs of basic rights; and [3] lack of job mobility, making MDWs more vulnerable to exploitation.

Singapore defended its separate labour act for migrant domestic workers, citing the unique nature of their work within families. However, the Committee pointed out the limitations of the act, particularly regarding working hours, overtime pay, and leave. The absence of unionisation rights for these workers further restricts their ability to negotiate for better working conditions.

Anti-Human Trafficking Policy and Moving Forward

Questions were raised about the effectiveness of Singapore’s anti-human trafficking policy, particularly regarding the lack of prosecutions in reported cases of migrant worker exploitation. The Singapore delegation assured the Committee of thorough investigations and the availability of treatment centres for victims.

Muslim Women’s Rights and Sharia Law

The Committee expressed concern about the application of a “particularly patriarchal” interpretation of Sharia law in matters related to Muslim women’s marriage, divorce, and inheritance. 

The Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS) said that while the practice of female genital cutting has been considered a religious obligation in the past, it has since updated its religious guidance to reflect the diversity of views and to better educate and empower Muslim parents, emphasising that the safety of the child remains paramount.  

Singapore’s CEDAW review serves as a valuable opportunity to assess the country’s progress towards gender equality and identify areas for improvement. The forthcoming concluding observations and recommendations from the Committee (expected in June) will provide crucial guidance for Singapore as it strives to create a future where all women and girls can reach their full potential.

Response: Change to the Women’s Charter allowing couples to cite mutual agreement as a reason for divorce


We are pleased to learn that married couples will be able to divorce on the basis of mutual agreement beginning in July.

This is more than two years after the Women’s Charter (Amendment) Act, which introduced this option in Parliament in 2022.

AWARE has long advocated for no-fault divorce, and submitted recommendations to the Ministry of Social and Family Development’s 2021 public consultation on how to better support children and divorcees while lessening animosity.

We believe that implementing no-fault divorce will help parties to end their marriage in a less-acrimonious way, and help preserve an amicable atmosphere as parents navigate the management of their parenting rights and obligations.

Committee of Supply Debates 2024: notes on gendered issues

Written by Lee Yoke Mun and Kimberly Wong

From February 28 to March 7, 2024, members of Parliament participated in the Committee of Supply (COS) debates to discuss each ministry’s estimated expenditure in 2024. This came after Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong’s Budget statement on February 16. In total, 598 cuts were filed during the debates, several of which aligned closely with AWARE’s advocacy. 

Below are some highlights: 

  1. Stronger labour protections

There was a strong call for greater protections for all workers, with a focus on the challenges faced by vulnerable groups in the workplace. 

Speaking on the upcoming Workplace Fairness Legislation (WFL), MP He Ting Ru (WP) called on the government to work towards prohibiting all forms of discrimination (e.g., indirect discrimination, discrimination-related harassment) in the next five years and to cover these under TAFEP guidelines in the interim. She also sought clarity on the protections against retaliation available to employees reporting forms of discrimination not covered under the WFL and advocated for the inclusivity and accessibility of grievance-handling processes to ensure that all workers who face discrimination can seek redress. 

On reasonable accommodations, Minister of State Gan Siow Huang acknowledged that these will enable persons with disabilities (PWDs) to undertake meaningful employment. Stressing the importance of such accommodations, MP Rachel Ong (PAP) asked for an evaluation matrix to monitor the implementation, effectiveness, and impact of the forthcoming Tripartite Advisory. Going a step further, she asked if the government plans to incorporate reasonable accommodations for PWDs into the WFL in the future. 

MP Gerald Giam (WP) highlighted the need for better workplace support for women experiencing menopause, especially given the rising number of older women in our workforce. Apart from fostering a supportive work environment, the MP suggested incentivising women turning 45 to seek preemptive check-ups and providing leave or subsidised treatments for menopause symptoms.

MPs also put forth suggestions to address the gender wage gap: MP Desmond Choo (PAP) proposed greater disclosure and transparency in the gender composition of senior management roles and compensation, while MP He Ting Ru called for mandatory reporting on the gender pay gap for the same job description for companies with ten or more employees. MP Choo also stated that closing this gap requires us to confront the structural barriers limiting women’s economic opportunities.

Given the rising cost of living, MPs also expressed concerns about low-wage workers’ ability to meet their basic needs, with MP Yip Hon Weng (PAP) asking if Singapore is on track to ensure that these workers receive liveable wages. DPM Wong’s update on the increases in the qualifying monthly income cap and the maximum annual payment under the Workfare Income Supplement scheme from $2,500 to $3,000 and from $4,200 to $4,900, respectively, is thus welcome. 

  1. Caregiving for children and the elderly

With a rapidly ageing population and falling total fertility rate, support for parents and caregivers of elderly persons was an area of significant concern amongst MPs.

To help employees juggle work and caregiving responsibilities, several MPs highlighted the importance of flexible work arrangements (FWAs) and posed questions on the upcoming Tripartite Guidelines for Flexible Work Arrangement Requests. MP Yeo Wan Ling (PAP) inquired about safeguards against employers rejecting FWA requests without fair and proper consideration and suggested providing alternative benefits for workers whose jobs are not suitable for FWAs.

Complementary to FWAs, MPs Yeo Wan Ling and Jamus Lim (WP) recommended the expansion of family care leave to cover workers with elderly parents as well as a wider range of family members requiring care. Further, MP Louis Ng (PAP) urged the government to provide a firm timeline to mandate four-week paternity leave and reiterated his call for the equalisation of maternity and paternity leave, which AWARE has also long advocated for. 

Beyond considerations of the workplace, we were heartened to hear that MSF will lower childcare fee caps in Anchor and Partner Operated Preschools over the next two years and that all families with a monthly household income of $6,000 and below will qualify for the maximum amount of childcare subsidy for their income tier. These subsidies will go some way towards alleviating childcare costs for families.

As for childminding, MPs Melvin Yong (PAP) and Ng Ling Ling (PAP) raised concerns about ensuring that safety and quality standards are met, on top of keeping the option affordable, particularly for low-income families. Minister of State for Social and Family Development Sun Xueling shared that several measures, such as background checks, will be put in place and that ECDA will work with operators to co-develop industry standards.

MP Carrie Tan (PAP) renewed her call to introduce CareFare as an income supplement for those who have to involuntarily give up employment to assume caregiving duties at home.

On other eldercare-related measures, we applaud MOH’s plans to introduce standardised care assessments and progressively appoint bundled service providers so that seniors can enjoy more seamless care delivery.

  1. Support for vulnerable groups and all families

AWARE welcomed the sustained advocacy for enhanced support for vulnerable groups and marginalised families.

As MP Ng Ling Ling remarked, Singapore needs to be inclusive of different family types, such as single-parent families. 

Focusing on transnational families, MP Faisal Manap (WP) shared that applying for the Long-Term Visit Pass (LTVP) remains a stressful and costly process for many low-income migrant spouses. He asked if ICA has engaged other relevant organisations towards a more coordinated approach in assessing these LTVP applications.

Several MPs raised questions about ComLink+. MP Ng Ling Ling inquired about the measures that will be used to assess the efficacy of family coaching under the scheme, while MP Denise Phua (PAP) sought updates on the scheme’s progress, lessons learnt from the pilot and strategies to enhance the effectiveness of family coaching. The latter also shared MPs Faisal Manap and Xie Yao Quan’s (PAP) concerns about recruiting enough manpower with the necessary skills to ensure that families are well supported without coaches and befrienders burning out.

As Singapore continues to experience high demand and limited supply in the post-pandemic housing market, access to housing has remained front of mind for many MPs. MP Carrie Tan identified several groups that may be facing housing instability, including families living under cramped conditions in public rental flats, under-35 singles with strained familial relationships and single parents. To address this, she recommended that MND offer more co-living rental housing options for singles of all ages with tiered subsidies and lease terms ranging from one to five years.

MP Faisal Manap spoke about the challenges that divorced parents experience in securing housing during and after the disposal of their matrimonial flat. He asked if MND would consider granting these parents in-principle approvals, provided they meet the other criteria for the public rental scheme.

MP Louis Ng continued to advocate  for the end of housing discrimination against single, unwed parents, who can only obtain temporary accommodations under the Parenthood Provisional Housing Scheme (PPHS) on a case-by-case basis. Although the recently announced PPHS (Open Market) Voucher will help many offset rental fees while waiting for their flats, the exclusion of single, unwed parents from PPHS means that they are less likely to benefit from this initiative in the coming year.

Finally, we are encouraged to see the removal of the age limit cap and the increase in the annual matching cap of the Matched Retirement Savings Scheme, as well as the quantum of the Silver Support Scheme payments, which will increase the ability of older individuals to achieve retirement adequacy.

Our statement on the conflict in Gaza

For months, we’ve witnessed the escalating situation in Gaza, hoping every day for news of a ceasefire. This humanitarian crisis has now reached another tipping point with the Israeli incursion into Rafah.

UN Women reports that Rafah now hosts 700,000 women and girls who have no alternative housing, and nowhere else to go. According to the most recent UN Women survey, 93% of the interviewed women expressed feeling unsafe, with over half reporting medical conditions requiring urgent attention.

The cost of conflict on women and girls is a known fact, but one that still continues to be swept aside, even accepted, as collateral damage.

In our work, we’ve witnessed the power of change when socially conscious people unite against unjust laws and unethical actions.

We stand with all people of conscience, both in and outside Singapore, to urge international organisations and those with influence in the region to act swiftly and decisively to stop the genocide in Gaza. Together, we can amplify the global demand for peace and justice.

Read UN’s latest press release here: https://www.unwomen.org/en/news-stories/press-release/2024/05/intensified-military-operations-will-bring-increased-death-and-despair-for-rafahs-700000-women-and-girls

AWARE sits on LKYS of Public Policy panel on Budget 2024

In March, Ms. Sugidha Nithi (above), AWARE’s Director of Advocacy and Research, was part of a panel discussion at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, to discuss the implications of Singapore’s Budget 2024. The panel was led by Senior Research Fellow, Head of the Social Inclusion Project and Case Insights Unit, Dr. Ng Kok Hoe, and also featured the host of The Financial Coconut podcast Mr. Reggie Koh, and the President of Singapore Youth for Climate Action (SYCA) Ms. Terese Teoh.

The panel talked about how Singapore’s 2024 Budget marks a shift in focus, explored how policymaking links to the Forward Singapore exercise, and how we can aim for a more progressive approach.

The entire conversation was filmed and can be viewed below or at this link.

Here are the key takeaways:

  • Social spending: A significant portion of the budget (43%) is dedicated to social programmes, including initiatives to improve skills and job opportunities for mid-career workers.
  • Accessibility challenges: Concerns remain about the accessibility of these programmes, particularly for marginalised communities. Simplifying application processes is crucial for change.
  • Environmental focus: Budget 2024 prioritises sustainability for the first time, with measures for a low-carbon future. However, achieving ambitious climate goals might require bolder policies.
  • Focus on some, neglect of others: The budget doesn’t fully address the needs of all groups, with workers in the construction and caregiving sectors lacking specific support.

Read the full event report here.

Image above: YouTube screengrab

Change in Helplines’ Operational Hours on Friday, May 10, 2024

On May 10, 2024, the operational hours of the Women’s Care Centre (WCC), Sexual Assault Care Centre (SACC), and Workplace Harassment and Discrimination (WHDA) Helplines will be as follows:

WCC Helpline
OPEN: 10am –  12:30pm
CLOSED: 12:30pm – 6pm

SACC Helpline
CLOSED: 10am – 6pm

WDHA Helpline
CLOSED: 10am – 6pm

All services will resume on Monday, May 13, 2024.

Note: AWARE has made the decision to discontinue its WHDA. Our last day of service will be on May 31, 2024. After 31st May, those facing workplace issues can call the AWARE Women’s Helpline (1800 777 5555) or Sexual Assault Care Centre (6779 0282) from 10am – 6pm, Mondays to Fridays.

We thank you for your support during this transition period. For more information on the WHDA closure, please visit our website here.

If you have experienced sexual assault within the last 72 hours, you may refer to this page for suggested actions.

If you require support, you may reach out to these alternatives:

  • National Anti-Violence Helpline (24-hour, for reporting of domestic and sexual violence): 1800 777 0000
  • Samaritans of Singapore (24-hour, for coping with self-harm or suicidal ideation):
  • IMH Helpline (24-hour, for mental health crisis): 6389 2222
  • ComCare Helpline (7am-12am, to locate your nearest Family Service Centre): 1800 222 0000
  • Care Corner Helpline (10am-10pm, for emotional support for Mandarin speakers): 1800 3535 800
  • Community Justice Centre (Mon-Fri, 10am-12.30pm, 1.30pm-4pm, 20 minutes free legal information, walk ins only, first-come-first-serve basis)
  • Law Society Pro Bono Legal Clinic Services (Free legal information, appointments needed)
  • Police 999, Medical assistance 995 (If you or someone you know is in danger or has an emergency)

We seek your kind understanding and patience. Thank you.

Forum: Legislate flexiwork if guidelines fail to spur change

This forum letter was first published in The Straits Times on May 4, 2024. 

The Straits Times editorial on the tripartite guidelines on flexible work arrangement (FWA) requests noted that these compulsory guidelines signalled the normalising of such arrangements in the labour landscape (The normalisation of flexiwork, April 28).

These guidelines are a step in the right direction, but they are not legally enforceable. They may be categorised as “compulsory” but remain toothless. So the question is: Are employers obliged to apply these guidelines?

Since FWAs are not a common feature of our labour landscape, the only real and quick way to normalise them is to legislate them. The guidelines provide clarity for both employees and employers, such as how employees can request FWAs, how employers should evaluate these requests, and what does not constitute a good reason for refusing an FWA. The guidelines have template forms for employees to request an FWA, and for employers to respond to these requests.

However, sans legislation, achieving widespread adoption of FWAs will require more than just publishing the guidelines. We call for a national campaign via traditional and social media to raise awareness and education about FWAs, and to normalise their inclusion in the labour landscape. We also suggest training programmes and workshops for human resource professionals and managers.

Finally, it is critical to monitor the success of the guidelines over time _ both the rate of adoption by employers, and how well the guidelines are being put into effect in the workplace to evaluate the need for legislation. The Government should hold surveys or focus group discussions to measure this, with the results published to aid discourse. The Tripartite Guidelines on Fair Employment Practices were published in 2007 and enhanced in 2011 and 2023. Yet they did not manage to rid workplaces of discrimination, which resulted in the Tripartite Committee on Workplace Fairness recommending in 2023 (16 years later) that there should be legislation on this.

We should not wait so long to decide on legislation if the FWA guidelines do not spur the change we want to see. We therefore call for a review in three years on the rate of adoption and effectiveness of implementing the guidelines by employers. We recommend that at that point the Government should take the next step in legislation if the results are not satisfactory.

Sugidha Nithi
Director of Advocacy, Research and Communications
AWARE

A Recap: AWARE’s 39th Annual General Meeting 2024

On Saturday, 27 April 2024, AWARE held its 39th Annual General Meeting, the first in-person Board Elections since 2018. At the AGM, which AWARE President Ong Soh Chin presided over, 80 members were present. 

In her opening remarks, Ms. Ong reminded all members and staff present that AWARE needs to remain strong, steadfast, and vigilant, particularly in this climate of turmoil and disruption around the world. She also highlighted the importance of bouncing back from challenges. AWARE clocked a record fundraising year with $2,980,000 raised. She added that with the expansion of the senior leadership team, AWARE will only grow from strength to strength. 

After Ms. Ong’s introduction, AWARE representatives gave updates on each department’s key work during 2023. The full details can be found in the Annual Report 2023, but below is a summary. 

The CARE Department comprises the Women’s Care Centre (WCC) and the Sexual Assault Care Centre (SACC) and was represented by Stephanie Tolentino, Assistant Manager (Case Management and Counselling), together with Hon Hui Yi (pictured below), Senior Executive (Case Management). In 2023, CARE supported 3,378 across all services, which translates to 65 clients per week. 

WCC launched their brand new multilingual callback service, allowing more non-English speaking women access to the help they need. As a result, the Women’s Helpline received over 4,000 calls, with close to 3,000 hours of support given to clients. 

Additionally, WCC conducted close to 2,000 counselling sessions with clients, with 93% of those surveyed feeling empowered to understand themselves and their choices after the services. WCC also aided 122 clients who sought help from the legal clinic. Meanwhile, SACC served 786 clients in 2022, with the majority of cases involving physical sexual violence. Across services, close to nine in 10 clients felt well-supported through counselling, case management, legal support, and befriending services. 

Other highlights of the year for SACC include training caseworkers on sexual assault support, investing in staff wellbeing in order to minimise burnout and communicating openly on how CARE staff can be better supported. 

Caroline Callow, Senior Consultant and Organisational Development Facilitator at Catalyse, reported that in 2023, Catalyse focused on three key pillars of offerings: harassment prevention consulting and advising, diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) consulting and training, coaching, and development. 

The team focused on promoting more comprehensive engagements beyond one-off training sessions, revamped their website, and intensified electronic direct mail (EDM) communications and social media platforms to leverage their extensive reach. By the end of 2023, the proportion of the Catalyse client base represented by Global Fortune 500 organisations had increased by 15% from 2022. Looking ahead to 2024, Catalyse aims to leverage the Workplace Fairness Act to strengthen its position as trauma-informed experts, to move forward with the important work of running workplace investigations and to facilitate conversations around restorative justice. 

Sugidha Nithiananthan, Director of Advocacy, Research and Communications (ARC), highlighted the four main areas that the department had focussed on in 2023: gender-based violence, marginalised women and girls, families and caregiving and workplace fairness. Some of the key achievements of 2023 include the successful inclusion of coercive control as abuse in legislation by Minister Sun Xueling, the doubling of paternity leave and the Workplace Harassment Discrimination Advisory (WHDA) which served a total of 252 clients in 2023. 

In terms of research, ARC has started on a report on transnational families with the South Central Community Family Service Centre, which is expected to be completed by the end of this year. Finally, Ms. Nithiananthan mentioned that AWARE has reached a combined following of almost 51,000 across all platforms and has maintained a high media coverage of 314 media mentions in 2023. 

Isabella Tan, Executive of Fundraising, provided a comprehensive overview of the work that the department has done for the past year. As previously mentioned, 2023 was a milestone year as the organisation managed to raise a total of close to $2,980,000, marking a return to pre-pandemic levels. It was particularly heartening to the team that AWARE’s 11th Annual Ball, which is the main source of fundraising, managed to raise a record-breaking $771,000. 

Other successful campaigns that also displayed the strength of AWARE not just as an insular organisation but as a diverse community included Voices for Change, which raised $504,000 in total. Moving forward, seeing as there has been a decreasing trend in individual giving, the team has decided to make increasing individual donations one of its main priorities. 

The Support, Partner and Act through Community Engagement (S.P.A.C.E) department, consisting of Shamima Rafi, Manager, and Izzaty Ishak (pictured above), Senior Executive, shared that the team had three key focuses when planning for capacity-building activities in 2023. These three areas were: eradicating sexual violence, providing comprehensive sex education and building feminist leadership. Ms. Shamima shared that since 2021, the Sexual Assault First Responder Training workshops have trained close to 1,500 participants. In 2023, the S.P.A.C.E team held nine public runs and six dedicated runs for student leaders from institutes of higher learning. 

Another highlight of 2023 was making comprehensive sex education more accessible to disadvantaged communities, which saw the team collaborate with social service agencies such as Methodist Welfare Services Girls’ Residence and Lutheran Community Care Services. In 2024, the department seeks to explore and innovate beyond boundaries as it seeks to establish a new online portal for sex education, kickstart feminist fellowships amongst change makers aligned with AWARE’s values and engage men in conversations on what healthy masculinity can and should look like. 

Yasmine Tan, Director of Operations, highlighted that 2023 was the year of building organisational capacity and leading operational functions. Using a three-step framework of understanding, improving and preparing, with the Operations team conducting employee surveys and polls to collect feedback from staff. Based on this understanding, the team tidied up the organisation’s internal communications by creating a one-stop depository cataloguing important organisation information, prioritising staff bonding, and establishing a comprehensive risk management policy. Looking at the year ahead, the team aims to improve AWARE’s retention rate by looking at solutions to increase staff capacity. 

The AGM concluded with the Election of the President and the new Board (pictured below) for 2024-2026. Voting for non-standard items this year was via secret ballot using Balotilo, an e-voting platform.

This year’s nominees reflect the diversity of AWARE’s community, with the elected Board members ranging in age from 34 to 62 and backgrounds in law, advertising, finance, philanthropy, and various corporate environments.

Many of the elected Board are not only long-time members of AWARE but also change makers and leaders in both civil society and the private sector.

Aarathi Arumugam, who previously acted as the Treasurer for two terms, was elected as AWARE President for the upcoming term. 

Lihui Zeng and Anju Patwardhan ran unopposed as Treasurer and Assistant Treasurer, respectively. The other six board positions were contested, and the successful candidates were: Filzah Sumartono, Ijin Tan, Joanne Theseira, Kanak Muchhal, Penelope Shone, and Stacey Choe. 

Ms. Ong rounds out the board, and will remain on for a year as the immediate past president. 

She expressed her gratitude towards members and the Board, invited members to join her in thanking the staff and the outgoing Board, and handed the baton over to incoming AWARE President, Ms. Arumugam.

This recap was written by Cassandra Goh, and photos by Sandra Chua and Cecilia Woo.