About Us
The Singapore Council of Women’s Organisations (SCWO) is the national coordinating body for women’s organisations in Singapore. With more than 60 member organisations representing over 600,000 women, we work collectively to promote the ideals of “Equal Space, Equal Voice, and Equal Worth” for women nationwide.
While Singapore has made significant progress in advancing women’s rights, gender disparities still exist. Women still disproportionately take on caregiving responsibilities, experience workplace discrimination and pay inequalities, and are often more affected by various forms of violence.
SCWO and its member organisations are dedicated to closing these gaps and fostering a society where women and men have equal opportunities—in homes, workplaces, communities, and leadership roles.
Key programmes, such as Star Shelter, provide temporary refuge for women and children who have experienced family violence. The Maintenance Support Central (MSC) offers advice and support to women struggling to secure the financial assistance they are entitled to.
Our Vision
We believe in gender equality across all spheres of life. Despite progress, women still face disparities in caregiving, workplace treatment, and safety. With our member organisations, we aim to eliminate these gaps and create a society of equal opportunities and freedom from discrimination and violence.
Our Mission
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Equal Space Women should feel safe wherever they are, free to live their lives as they choose without any danger of discrimination, harassment, sexual assault, and violence. |
Equal Voice Women should be equally represented in political, corporate, and community leadership. Policymaking will benefit from the perspectives they bring to the discussions and decisions. |
Equal Worth Women should be fully recognised and valued for their contributions to society, family, and the workplace, where there should be no gender wage gap for work of equal value. |
Herstory
In 1978, a group of Women Leaders, led by Ms Caroline Lam of the Business & Professional Women’s Association, mooted the idea of an Umbrella Body to unite the many small women’s organisations.
On 15th November 1978, a meeting of the Pro Tem committee took place, and several names were considered, including “Singapore Women’s Federation” and the Bureau of Women’s Affairs.
On the 30th April 1979, at a meeting called by Mrs S.C. Tang, Executive Director of the Singapore Council of Social Service, the floor nominated a pro tem committee, comprising Mrs Julie Tan (Chairperson), Mrs Caroline Lam (Chairperson), Mrs Anamah Tan, Mrs Seow Peck Leng, Mrs Maureen Tan, Mrs Mary Ho and Mrs Tan Bee Choo’s Representative. The committee drew up the Constitution and sent it to twenty-four women’s organisations and the Registrar of Societies in October 1979.
The name that the Registrar finally approved was "Singapore Council of Women's Organisations".
The Constitution spells out the role SCWO will play as the national coordinating body for women’s organisations in Singapore. SCWO’s mission is to actively INFORM, ADVOCATE and EDUCATE and work towards advancing women’s status and being the voice for women in Singapore.
On 6th February 1980, the First Executive Board was elected, headed by Ms Julie Tan as the first President of SCWO.
On 1st March 1980, Senior Minister of State for Education and Acting Minister for Social Affairs Dr Ahmad Mattar officiated at the inauguration of SCWO.
Publications, studies, workshops and forums have formed an important part of the SCWO’s activities from the very beginning and continue today.
Learn more about the progress of women in Singapore and the women who made it happen: