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One of the aims of the Hong Kong Association of Business and Professional Women (HKABPW) is to work for the removal of all forms of discrimination and for equal opportunities, status and remuneration for women in economic, civil and political life.
One of HKABPW's goals is to maintain good relations with government agencies and bodies like the Equal Opportunities Commission and the Women's Commission. Since HKABPW is a non-governmental organization (NGO), we also make alliances and liaise with other women's organisations in Hong Kong who also have NGO status. If you are interested in being on the Public Affairs committee, please email us at info@hkabpw.org
The types of public affairs and equal rights issues HKABPW has supported over the years include:
- Ratification of CEDAW in Hong Kong
- Sex Discrimination Ordinance
- Equal Rights
- Separate Taxation
- Maternity Benefits
- Sex stereotyping in textbooks and advertisements
- Establishment of the Equal Opportunities Commission
- Domestic Violence
- Legislation
- Harmony House
- Rape Hotline
- Rape Trial Procedure
- Family Concerns
- Family Courts
- Public Housing tenancy rights
- Creches
- Career Guidance and Support
- Seminars for schoolgirls
- Summer work experience for schoolgirls
- Bursaries for female university students in non-traditional fields of study
- Retraining for women rejoining in the workforce
- Retraining for women in prison
Equal Opportunities Commission
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HKABPW Public Affairs Committee Update (May 2007)
In 2007, HKABPW’s Public Affairs Committee has been involved in several issues on helping disadvantaged women in Hong Kong and internationally. The areas of interest and concern include:
- Human Trafficking – Hong Kong is the site for a Human Trafficking Summit on Thursday, April 19 – for details, click here
- Women in Prisons – to learn more about women incarcerated in Hong Kong prisons, click here
- Rape Crisis Centre – RainLily received a grant from the Li Ka Shing Foundation and is awaiting news of funding from the Community Chest in March 2007 for the following fiscal year.
RainLily Build-in Study Report (English)
RainLily Build-in Study Report (Chinese)
- Empowering Women - Influencing Change
March 26th, Monday
PAC continues to explore the problems faced economically and socially by women working in the sex industry in Hong Kong and China, many of whom are being exploited, some of whom have been trafficked.
The level of violence reported in a recent survey in China indicates the strength of discrimination against women who try to maintain family and self by selling this service. It was emphasised that they sell a service, they do not sell away the right to look after their bodies and their health, but social attitudes assume the latter. Almost 2/3 had been verbally abused, nearly half had been sexually abused and more than 2/3 were migrants far from the comfort and support of their families.
To empower women our speakers emphasised the need for decriminalisation of all activities associated with prostitution, for health education, advocacy, micro-credit schemes, self help and peer group support, repatriation and reintegration schemes.
The meeting on March 26 gave us an in-depth awareness of a situation of which most of us know very little. PAC continues to search for ways of addressing discrimination in this as in all other areas affecting women.
The presentations on the evening by the speakers are attached below.
Information on Action for Reach Out
Research on Sex Workers in China
ISS-HK Experience in Human Trafficking March 2007 for HKABPW
Read about HKABPW’s report to BPW International on HKABPW’s efforts to comply to the UN mandates (2003-2006) here.
To know more about the Campaigns and Legislations that HKABPW has been involved in,
please click here
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