Govt Should Ensure Aware Stays Secular

The Straits Times published this letter by Ravi Govindan in the Forum page on 24 April 2009:

Govt should ensure Aware stays secular

I REFER to the change in leadership of the Association of Women for Action and Research (Aware). The technicalities of the society's leadership tussle are not an issue for most of us as it is an internal affair.

Of public concern is the implication of the leadership takeover, part of which was reflected by Ms Hafizah Osman in her letter on Monday, 'Passive supporters galvanised into action'.

Ms Hafizah was concerned that Aware was moving towards being an organisation of exclusion. I share her concern. To the neutral public, Aware serves a vital national purpose because it has pursued its aim of gender equality, regardless of race, religion or sexual preference, in a transparent, all-embracing way.

Because of its generosity of spirit and service to all, Aware has been a force for national good. My concern is whether the new leadership will continue this spirit of inclusiveness. Already, sexual minorities among the women have been forewarned that the new Aware agenda will exclude their voice.

While I am a conservative Asian family man, and firmly believe in the heterosexual definition of a married couple as the nucleus of a Singaporean family, I am, like Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew, realistic enough to appreciate the importance of accommodating non-heterosexual citizens in an all-inclusive Singapore.

The old Aware's spirit of non-judgmental activism and generosity reflects the charity and kindliness of the civil society we are trying to build.

Part of the secular strength of Aware previously was that it comprised leaders from multi-religious backgrounds - Muslims, Catholics, Hindus and Buddhists. The new leaders are largely mono-religious and appear to hold singularly exclusive views about religion, social and family behaviour and sexual mores.

What are the checks and balances, for instance, to ensure that women who are at a low and vulnerable point in their lives, and who turn to Aware for help, are not turned towards religious rather than practical answers?

I hope the Government, particularly the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports, will closely watch developments to ensure transparency and provide the necessary safeguards.

Ms Hafizah also wrote: 'Twenty-four years of serious work may now be threatened by a group of women whose religious affiliation may lead to an exclusionary Aware.'

I would add that government or independent guarantees must be in place to ensure that the wronged, the troubled and the abused whom the new Aware assists, should not have to be targets of proselytisation in order to receive the secular aid they need.