Women's Aid Organization

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Women's Aid Organization ( WAO ) is a non-governmental organization in Malaysia that campaigns for women's rights and especially against violence against women. The organization was founded in 1982 and has played a leading role in the women's rights movement in Malaysia ever since.

WAO's mission is to consistently stand up for women's rights and to draw attention to the discrimination against women in Malaysia. The elimination of violence against women in Malaysian society is of particular importance.

WAO is a member of the Joint Action Group (JAG) in Malaysia. Within this group, WAO contributed to the implementation of the Domestic Violence Act 1996.

Important figures at WAO are Irene Xavier , who claims to have been imprisoned and ill-treated during Operation Lalang in 1987, and Ivy Josiah , who has worked for the organization for almost 30 years.

Tasks and projects

WAO consists of three different centers with different areas of responsibility.

Women's refuge

The women's shelter was the first WAO headquarters and is an important point of contact for women and children fleeing domestic violence. In recent years, however, the WAO has also increasingly taken in abused guest workers, women who have fallen victim to human trafficking, asylum seekers and single women. The women are looked after by professional social workers and psychologists.

One activity is professional telephone counseling and personal advice on topics such as domestic violence, rape, sexual abuse or questions about topics related to marriage and divorce.

Children's home

The WAO Children's Home was the first of its kind in Malaysia and was founded in 1990. Since then, it has offered temporary care for the children of former residents of the women's shelter. The care of the children only lasts until the women are again ready to look after the children independently.

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b ABOUT US ( Memento from March 20, 2011 in the Internet Archive )
  2. ↑ DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ( Memento from July 26, 2010 in the Internet Archive )
  3. ↑ http://www.unifem.org/gender_issues/voices_from_the_field/story.php?StoryID=329
  4. ↑ WAO SERVICES ( Memento from March 17, 2011 in the Internet Archive )