by Cassandra Chew
THERE has been a resurgence of interest in leadership at the
Singapore Council of Women's Organisations (SCWO), the umbrella
body for women's groups here.
Its annual general meeting last Saturday saw its first major
contest for board seats in eight years. A total of 15
representatives from among its 51 member groups vied for 11 places
on the board. Only the president's post, which went to Mrs Laura
Hwang, was uncontested.
The groups which sent candidates to contest SCWO posts included
the Association of Women for Action and Research (Aware) and the
United Nations Development Fund for Women (Unifem) Singapore, which
last contested in 2002. That year, there were 20 nominations for 12
places.
Aware has traditionally not worked closely with SCWO, as the two
took different approaches to promoting women's rights and issues.
Aware was embroiled in a high-profile leadership tussle last year
between its more liberal incumbents and a conservative group of
newcomers who feared that Aware was promoting a pro-gay agenda.
Aware's current president, Ms Dana Lam, 57, told The Straits
Times that she decided to run for a board seat this time as she was
drawn to the council's growing interest in research and
advocacy.
SCWO president Laura Hwang believed that what 'resonated with
many' who decided to seek a board seat was the council's task force
on the enforcement of maintenance support orders for divorced
women, and its planned centre to assist claimants.
