AWARE: Milestones and brickbats

AWARE: Milestones and brickbats

1985
AWARE is founded by a group of dedicated women whose “mission is to identify areas for improvement in gender equality, encourage positive change, and support women in realising their highest potential.”

1989
AWARE managed to convince the Advertising Standards Authority of Singapore (ASAS) to develop new guidelines to curb discrimination and degrading messages or implications in advertisements.

1994
AWARE set up a Rape Study Committee, which submitted a proposal for standardising and enhancing police procedures in rape management to the Singapore Police Force. Successfully aided to revoke a change in the handling of rape cases by the Singapore Police Force thereafter. They also opened doors in school for girls to learn life skills, such as technical studies instead of just home economics.

1996
AWARE caused a revision to the Women’s Charter to provide more protection for victims of domestic violence. They managed to include abuse cases to include ex-spouses, when the previous charter only provided protection for spouses. In addition to that, the revision also allowed women to have equal rights as their husbands in managing children.

2003
The Medical Faculty in National University of Singapore (NUS) eradicated its quota for women for its medical school intake, which was previously set at one third.

2005
Equalised medical benefits for both male and female officers in the Civil Service. Women can now claim medical benefits for their spouses and their unmarried children. Previously, only men could do that.

2006
Together with NUS Pro Bono Law Society, AWARE developed legal changes to address gaps in Singapore’s laws on trafficking.

2007
AWARE is recognised by the United Nations for its efforts to fight against gender discrimination with its Convention for the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) subcommittee. Separately, they also managed to cause a revision in the penal code, including issues of marital rape.

Mar 28, 2009
The day of the annual general meeting (AGM). Nine out of twelve ex-co positions went to new faces while the presidency role went to a veteran, Claire Nazar. It was subsequently revealed that 80 of the 102 AGM attendees turned out to be newbies who had joined in recent months. In a shocking turn of events, Braema Mathi, the ex-president and current chairperson for sub-committee CEDAW had her services terminated in an abrupt, dismissive email sent by Sally Ang, the new assistant honorary secretary.

Apr 8, 2009
Claire Nazar stepped down from her AWARE presidency position without giving a reason.

Apr 10, 2009
Local newspapers reported further unhappiness and tension from the older members with the newer members. Their main concern: the intention and agenda of the newer members.

Apr 14, 2009
The old guard made a comeback with 160 established AWARE members to call for an Extraordinary General Meeting (EOGM) with a vote of no confidence in the new committee. In the meantime, the new committee continued to keep mum. The promised press release was not released.

Apr 15, 2009
The new ex-co committee was announced, with DBS bank exec Josie Lau announced as the new president. However not all is smooth sailing as the old guards are unhappy that Constance Singam, the immediate past-president of AWARE, was asked to leave at the EXCO meeting before they relented and allowed her in. Caris Lim, an old guard stomped out of the meeting saying she was upset. Josie Lau and the new AWARE team issued a press release stating that they are aiming to build “existing advocacy” and “empower women who have been retrenched and equip them with new skills “.

Apr 16, 2009
Josie Lau was taken to task for ignoring DBS’ warnings and “conflict-of-interest concerns“. In the meantime, the old faces continued to ask for yet another EOGM on May 2. In addition to that, they also set up an external website. They also set up a Facebook group and an online petition to garner support.

Apr 17, 2009
Josie Lau released a letter to the media indicating that she was very displeased with the old guards for calling for yet another EOGM and hopes that they “should disclose their motives and objectives fully and honestly.” She also firmly stated that the members in the team were properly elected according to the association’s policies.

Apr 18, 2009
The Straits Times reported that Josie Lau and her husband are frequent worshippers at the Anglican Church of Our Saviour at Margaret Drive. Together with them, new committee members such as Charlotte Wong, Irene Yee, Jenica Chua, Maureen Ong and Sally Ang are also believed to attend the same church.

According to the church’s official website, the church takes a very strong opposing stand towards homosexuality. Meanwhile, then-AWARE president Constance Singam resigned from her post and hinted that she was upset with the way she was treated . The old guard also retaliated to Josie Lau’s statement with a letter to the media stating that this saga is far from over with several questions yet unanswered.

Apr 19, 2009
An interview with Josie Lau was aired on Channel News Asia programme Talking Point, raising more eyebrows than it ever did before. She evaded direct questions fired at her and said that she wished to heal bonds within “a team (that) has clearly fissured.”
In The Sunday Times, Claire Nazar and Constance Singam came forward with their take. Claire Nazar said she was “troubled” that the ex-co committee rapidly replaced the heads in the sub-committees “based only on a majority vote” which “broke AWARE’s tradition of allowing chairpersons who were doing a good job to continue their work.”

Apr 21,2009
Someone wrote to DBS, insisting that the bank take action against Josie Lau for her involvement in AWARE.

Apr 22, 2009
AWARE’s membership rose to an astonishing number of 880 from the previous week’s number of 400. Dodgy emails surface online, hinting at a possible recruitment drive.

Apr 23, 2009
A news conference was held at the Raffles Town Club by the new ex-co. Before the conference commenced, a veteran member in the new committee, honorary treasurer Chew I-Jin, had a near showdown with the new guard, Lois Ng, and accused her for knowingly excluding her from the conference. Bullets were fired in the conference as the old guard was accused of supporting lesbianism. Josie Lau also confirmed her husband and honorary secretary Jenica Chua received death threats. In addition to that, Josie Lau was also concerned that public blog posts have surfaced containing information on her and her family.

More drama ensued as Dr Thio Su Mien appeared at the news conference and revealed that, moved by what she saw as a pro-lesbian and pro-homosexual stance at AWARE, had encouraged women around her to join AWARE. Like a number of the new ex-co members, she also attends the Anglican Church of Our Saviour in Margeret Drive. Her nephew is the husband of Josie Lau.

In a separate incident today at the AWARE premises in Dover Crescent, the old guard tried to prevent the new ex-co team from changing the locks without informing them. Dana Lam, a former AWARE president, worried for her 25 years’ worth of research materials, while the centre’s manager, Schutz Lee, was fired without a reason. Josie Lau also confirmed she fired the secretariat who was responsible for keeping her locked out of the organisation’s email system.

Later, AWARE member Corrina Lim told the press that the changing of locks were discussed in the meeting and that Schutz Lee did not follow instructions which resulted in her dismissal.

Apr 24, 2009
Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean asked for tolerance within AWARE.

Constance Singam responded to allegations from the new ex-co that AWARE had become pro-homosexual and pro-sexual, clarifying that, in fact, when she gave a talk to a lesbian audience last year, they wanted to know why AWARE were not doing enough to fight for their rights.

AWARE also got the dubious honour of being featured on popular net culture blog Boing Boing today.

The saga continues.

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