Sg Council of Women's Organisations sees leadership tussle
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Jun 9, 2010 - Straits Times
SCWO sees leadership tussle
15 vie for 11 board posts in umbrella council; first big contest in 8 years
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.
New president Laura Hwang (left) and immediate past president Ann Tan. -- PHOTO: SINGAPORE COUNCIL OF WOMEN'S ORGANISATIONS
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Not another saga.
