Corinna Lim and Jolene Tan of the Association of Women for Action and Research (AWARE)

LAKSHMI RAMACHANDRAN | january 2015

MBI-WIS’s inaugural event was held Thursday, January 9th, 12.30pm in the Level 5 meeting room as a brown-bag talk exploring gender equality in Singapore. We were delighted to welcome Corinna Lim, Executive Director of the Association of Women for Action and Research (AWARE) and Jolene Tan, Programmes and Communications Senior Manager of AWARE. The Association of Women for Action and Research (AWARE) is Singapore’s leading gender equality advocacy group.

Prof Kenney of MBI and Jolene Tan of AWARE

AWARE believes in the rights of women and men to make informed and responsible choices about their lives and to have equal opportunities in education, marriage and employment, and in the right of women to control their own bodies, particularly with regard to sexual and reproductive rights.

AWARE is dedicated to removing gender-based barriers. These barriers apply to both women and men, but because of the way human society has evolved, it is women who are more likely to come up against these barriers. These barriers, whether structural, attitudinal, or self-imposed, prevent individuals in Singapore from developing their potential to the fullest and realising their personal visions and hopes. AWARE works to identify and eliminate these barriers through research and advocacy, education and training and support services.

Since its formation in 1985, AWARE has carried out research into numerous issues affecting women, including workplace sexual harassment, poverty of older women and Singapore’s compliance with UN anti-gender discrimination standards.

Find out more about AWARE, its resources and activities at www.aware.org.sg.