MALAYSIA: NOMINATION FOR THE 2008 SECRETARY'S AWARD FOR

UNCLAS KUALA LUMPUR 001570

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EAP/MTS, G/IWI

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KWMN PREL KPAO PHUM MY
SUBJECT: MALAYSIA: NOMINATION FOR THE 2008 SECRETARY'S AWARD FOR
INTERNATIONAL WOMEN OF COURAGE

REF: STATE 126072


1. Embassy Kuala Lumpur nominates Aegile Fernandez, co-founder and
coordinator for migrant and refugee affairs at the NGO Tenaganita
("Women's Power"),to receive the Secretary's award as an
International Woman of Courage. Aegile has demonstrated exceptional
courage and commitment to defending trafficked victims, refugees,
migrant and local plantation workers, and stateless street children;
she has done so in the face of threats and harassment from vice
syndicates and others opposed to her role. Under her active
co-leadership, Tenaganita has brought protection, comfort and hope
to the lives of tens of thousands of vulnerable women and children,
becoming Malaysia's leading and most effective NGO working on the
issues of trafficking in persons issues, migrant and plantation
workers, and street children.

2. In 1991, Aegile co-founded Tenaganita, a non-profit NGO involved
with the most marginalized groups including trafficked women, abused
domestic workers, refugees, migrant workers and people living with
HIV/AIDS. Since its founding, Tenaganita has rescued, sheltered,
counseled, and repatriated thousands of women, migrant workers, and
refugees, who had suffered in abusive and dangerous situations. In
1997, Aegila and Tenganita pioneered Coordination of Action Research
on Aids and Mobility (CARAM Asia). CARAM Asia carries out research,
advocacy, and capacity building to create an enabling environment
that empowers migrants and their communities to reduce HIV
vulnerability. It also promotes and protects the health rights of
Asian migrant workers globally. CARAM Asia developed into a network
of 26 member organizations, now covering 16 countries in Asia.


3. To better reach and assist victimized women, Aegila developed a
co-operative relationship with the Malaysian Royal Police. The
co-operative effort established Malaysia's first "Domestic Worker
Action Hotline" in 2004. The hotline is an avenue for domestic
workers, abused by their employers, to get in touch with Tenaganita.
The NGO then coordinates with the police to rescue the workers.
She is a leader in the campaign for better working conditions for
migrant workers. She consistently worked to increase the awareness
of the public, the Malaysian government and diplomatic
representatives on abuses among migrant workers, especially those
most vulnerable to trafficking in the areas of domestic work,
construction, and service industries. Aegile endured significant
harassment, including multiple invasions of her home, as a result of
her advocacy for abused migrant workers in the late 1990's.


4. In 2006, Aegile established one of the Malaysia's first shelters
for trafficked victims, attracting U.S. funding from PRM. She
tirelessly works with the government to identify trafficking
victims, especially those trapped in prostitution. The Malaysian
police acknowledged the shelter's efforts to counsel and protect
trafficked victims. Police regularly coordinate with her to provide
a temporary safe haven for suspected trafficking victims rescued by
police. Aegile continues to carry out her anti-trafficking work in
the face of constant threats and harassment from vice syndicates and
unscrupulous recruiting agents.

5. In 2006, Aegile expanded her focus to include stateless street
children in the East Malaysian state of Sabah. Illegal immigration
into Sabah, especially from the Philippines and Indonesia, is
creating a long-term problem of undocumented children, left behind
after their parents or other family members are deported to the home
countries. These children, unable to prove their nationality, often
must fend for themselves to survive. Aegile and Tenganita continue
to lobby the Malaysian government to recognize the children born in
Sabah and provide them with birth certificates, public services like
health care and education, and foster families.

6. Apart from these activities, Aegile advocates on the behalf of
former prisoners and drug dependents and their need for
rehabilitation. With the assistance of government agencies involved
in these activities, Aegile visits prisons and drug rehabilitation
centers in the country and counsels the inmates. She also has
lobbied the government to provide facilities for these former
prisoners and drug dependents to be able to sustain themselves
economically after they have been released from prison and
rehabilitation centers.

7. Aegile's actions match and support key U.S. Mission priorities
in Malaysia from the FY 2009 Mission Strategic Plan, particularly
combating trafficking in persons and assisting refugees.

8. We have notified Aegile of the nomination.

9. Aegile's information is as follows:
Name: Aegile V.M. Fernandez
Job title: Program Coordinator, Tenaganita/CARAM Asia-Malaysia
Date of birth: 1 September 1948
Country of birth: Malaysia
Citizenship: Malaysia
Address: Tenaganita/CARAM Asia-Malaysia
Penthouse Wisma MLS
31, Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman
50100 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Tel: 603-2691-3691
Email: tenaganita@yahoo.com.uk
Passport number: A14595660


10. Women's issues at Post are primarily covered and reported on by
Enrique Gallego, Political Officer, Tel: 603-2168-4831.

KEITH