VZCZCXYZ0007
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHKL #1570/01 2990915
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 260915Z OCT 07
FM AMEMBASSY KUALA LUMPUR
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0170

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