Women's Aid Organisation
Encyclopedia
Women's Aid Organisation or WAO is a Malaysian non-governmental organization
that fights for women's rights and specifically against violence against women. It was founded in 1982 and continues to play a leading role in the Malaysian women’s rights movement working within the fields of advocacy, public education as well as law and policy reforms.
WAO’s mission is to create and promote the respect, protection and fulfillment of equal rights for women and to work towards the elimination of discrimination against women. It focuses in particular on the elimination of violence against women. WAO is part of the Malaysian Joint Action Group (JAG) and within this group it has been involved in the lobby for the Domestic Violence Act in 1994 in Malaysia.
was honored with the Tun Razak Award for his contribution to the country. He donated his cash award of RM 30,000.00 to establish a shelter for battered women and their children. A Protem committee headed by Puan Sri E.N. Chong had its first meeting in November 1981. It took nine months to lay the groundwork and to form a core group of volunteers. These pioneer volunteers worked as a collective to formulate the operating principles of self-help and self-empowerment for battered women who turned to WAO for help.
In June 1982, WAO received temporary registration as a society and a single storey house was rented as WAO’s refuge and office premises.
The Malay Mail published the first article about the planned Refuge and soon after in September 1980 WAO received its first resident at the shelter.
There are professional social workers who provide assistance to those women and who also give face-to-face counseling sessions for those who seek counseling but may not want to move in to the shelter.
There is also professional telephone counseling for women who face domestic violence, rape, sexual abuse and as well for those who have questions on marriage and divorce. The average number of phone calls being handled per year by the social workers is 1,500.
Non-governmental organization
A non-governmental organization is a legally constituted organization created by natural or legal persons that operates independently from any government. The term originated from the United Nations , and is normally used to refer to organizations that do not form part of the government and are...
that fights for women's rights and specifically against violence against women. It was founded in 1982 and continues to play a leading role in the Malaysian women’s rights movement working within the fields of advocacy, public education as well as law and policy reforms.
WAO’s mission is to create and promote the respect, protection and fulfillment of equal rights for women and to work towards the elimination of discrimination against women. It focuses in particular on the elimination of violence against women. WAO is part of the Malaysian Joint Action Group (JAG) and within this group it has been involved in the lobby for the Domestic Violence Act in 1994 in Malaysia.
WAO Beginnings
In 1979, the late Tan Siew SinTan Siew Sin
Tun Tan Siew Sin was Malaya's first Minister of Commerce and Industry, Finance Minister for 15 years, and president of the Malayan Chinese Association .-Early life:...
was honored with the Tun Razak Award for his contribution to the country. He donated his cash award of RM 30,000.00 to establish a shelter for battered women and their children. A Protem committee headed by Puan Sri E.N. Chong had its first meeting in November 1981. It took nine months to lay the groundwork and to form a core group of volunteers. These pioneer volunteers worked as a collective to formulate the operating principles of self-help and self-empowerment for battered women who turned to WAO for help.
In June 1982, WAO received temporary registration as a society and a single storey house was rented as WAO’s refuge and office premises.
The Malay Mail published the first article about the planned Refuge and soon after in September 1980 WAO received its first resident at the shelter.
Core Services and Projects
WAO consists of three different centers that all fulfill specific tasks.1. The Refuge
The refuge was the first center of WAO and is a house where battered women and their children can find a shelter. In the past years it has also become a shelter for abused migrant workers, trafficked women, asylum seekers and single mothers.There are professional social workers who provide assistance to those women and who also give face-to-face counseling sessions for those who seek counseling but may not want to move in to the shelter.
There is also professional telephone counseling for women who face domestic violence, rape, sexual abuse and as well for those who have questions on marriage and divorce. The average number of phone calls being handled per year by the social workers is 1,500.