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The Womens Aid Organisation (WAO): Harnessing Transnational Human Rights Concepts to Create Space for a Womens Agenda in Malaysia
Honors Thesis by Colette Johnson University of Washington Department of Anthropology Advised by Dr. Bettina Shell-Duncan Spring 2011

Finding 1: Human Rights as Common Sense

Staff consensus: I think domestic violence has always been a human rights issue Human rights concepts have been appropriated by local women (not foreign-led) Frame transformation of DV through awareness building Human rights discourse clashes with social & political norms

Finding 2: WAO Staff Empowerment

I feel so valued + In 2.5 years, I have changed a lot Staff autonomy & responsibility Collective decision-making Grooming of future leaders Result: long-term dedication

Abstract: This research contributes to the de-territorialized ethnography of transnational human rights culture as proposed by Sally Merry. Over the course of 3 months, I did a case study of the Womens Aid Organisation (WAO) of Malaysia, using open-ended NGO staff interviews, participant observation and a blind comparison of findings with an externally conducted evaluation of the organization from 2005. The latter noted many of the same themes and dynamics, giving legitimacy to these findings and highlighting the changes that have occurred within WAO in the past 5 years. I found that WAO translates human rights and feminist concepts into local settings and services, balancing between the specific instance of domestic violence in Klang Valley, Malaysia and the general movement for human right globally. The human rights framework is particularly useful in this setting because it challenges hegemonic norms of gender relations and womens place in society through frame transformation, negotiating a new space for womens rights on the national agenda. WAO has been successful in harnessing the human rights framework and creating a corresponding social movement due to a variety of organizational strengths, but I focus specifically on themes of 1) staff empowerment and 2) networking for solidarity. Staff empowerment creates dedicated long-term champions of womens rights issues, while networking creates a sisterhood of strong activist women who support one another and stand together on political issues. Finally, a section on WAO staff goals for the next 10 years is included in this study, to provide guidance for future organizational action.

- Few meaningful avenues for female leadership in politics outside the NGO realm

Finding 3: NGO Strength through Solidarity

Were all in it together Competing for funds, but working together on issues Mutual aid & respect/emulation Changes in laws & mindsets

Finding 4: Growing Forward - 10 Year Goals

Reach more women outside Kuala Lumpur (rural areas) More awareness-building Open another center Create toll-free lines Pro bono legal aid for women Law reform & collaboration with police/government Focus on the men (changing habits & awareness)

WAO Services: - Refuge: shelter for battered women - Counseling: face to face & by phone - CCC: childcare for ex-residents kids - Liaisons between Welfare & Police - Public education on womens rights - Advocacy & lobbying of government - Monitoring of Domestic Violence Act
Methods: 1) Participant Observation: WAO intern for 3 months 2) Staff Interviews: 14 WAO staff & 3 JAG staff 3) Blind comparison with 2005 WAO Evaluation

Human Rights

UDHR adopted in 1948

Focus 1: De-territorialized Ethnography Local site is intertwined with a global discourse & global networks Transnational movement & culture Focus 2: Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) Collaboration between researcher and community under investigation Research questions guided by WAO

Womens Rights

(Other Rights)

Global Regional Local

VAW any act of gender-based violence that results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual or mental harm or suffering to women (UN Declaration, 1993)

Violence Against Women (VAW) Joint Action Group (JAG) for Gender Equality All Womens Action Society of Malaysia

(Other Womens Rights Issues) JAG (1985) coalition to lobby on laws pertaining to rape, sexual harassment, Islamic family law, workers rights and laws that discriminate against women

Womens Aid Organisation (WAO)

Womens Center for Change

Sisters in Islam

Empower