Irene Fernandez is a Malaysian campaigner who works to uphold the rights of the poorest: migrant workers, farm labourers and domestic workers amongst them.

The recipient of a 2005 Right Livelihood Award, Irene was chosen because of ‘her outstanding and courageous work to stop violence against women and abuses of migrant and poor workers’, one of four winners from over 70 nominees.

Originally a high school teacher, in 1970 Irene gave up her career to become a full time organiser for youth workers. She became the national president for the Malaysian YCW (Young Christian Workers), in 1972 and a member of the international committee from 1973-75. During this time she was able to organise the first textile worker’s union and began trying to create trade unions in the free trade zones. She also focused on developing the involvement of women leaders in labour movements.

Since the Seventies Irene Fernandez has been involved in numerous campaigns to improve the circumstances of society’s poorest. In 1991 she founded the Tenaganita organisation in Kuala Lumpur. This institution documents the problems faced by migrant, farm and domestic workers and strives to support them, running programmes that educate in health, literacy, awareness and human rights.

Irene was arrested following the publication of a report on the abuse of migrant workers. However, undeterred by her sentence Fernandez has refused to limit her work or soften her message in any way. She never uses or advocates violence and has always worked in an open and legal way. Her protest is peaceful and intelligent, she is determined in her goal to fight abuse and uphold human rights.