The Icon of Humanity

Malaysian human rights campaigner Irene Farnandez was known for her unflinching dedication to fight for the rights of the poorest, migrant workers, domestic workers, and AIDS sufferers. Irene's cooperative hand was the only light of hope for thousands of Bangladeshi migrant workers left destitute in Malaysia. We remember the contributions of this great soul on her sudden departure from the world on 31st March, 2014.

Irene Farnandez (1946-2014)

Irene Fernandez was born in Malaysia in 1946
She was a school teacher and had three children and several foster children
In 1970 Irene gave up her teaching career to become a full-time organiser for young workers
She also began a consumer programme for rural women, linked to a breast-feeding campaign and the Nestlé boycott
In 1986 she led campaigns to stop violence against women which resulted in the growth of many women rights organisation

Irene was the President of  All Women's Action Society for five years which is the strongest  women's advocacy groups in Malaysia
The Domestic Violence Act, Sexual Harassment Code and changes to the laws related to rape are all a result of its work
From 1992, she was the chair of the Pesticide Action Network, working for developing sustainable agriculture
Fernandez also founded the Tenaganita organisation
It campaigns for the rights of foreign workers, up to three million of whom are in Malaysia

Tenaganita, has helped hundresds and thousands of Bangladeshi workers with legal and economic support
Tenaganita drew attention to controversial plans by the Malaysian government to deport more than a million foreign migrants
In 1995 Irene published a report on living conditions of migrant workers
In the report she showed evidence that 59 inmates, primarily Bangladeshis, had died in the Semenyih immigration detention camp of preventable diseases namely typhoid and beriberi

Despite harassment and obstacles Irene continued her works courageously
She was arrested in 1996 and charged with ‘maliciously publishing false news’
Her passport was held by the courts
On 24 November 2008, the earlier conviction was overturned and the court acquitted her, ending the thirteen-year case
In 2005, she was awarded the Right Livelihood Award for her contributions for the migrant workers and to stop gender violence
Irene Farnandez died on 31 March 2014 of heart failure