Refuge for abused women in Malaysia

Zara and her four children first came to sought shelter with WAO in 2014. She was badly beaten up by her husband. She ran to the nearby police station and was taken to Hospital Kuala Lumpur. Zara was refer to WAO by the hospital for shelter.

Zara has been married to her husband more than 10 years. They had four children aged 11, 8, 6 and 4 years old. Her husband kept to himself and always blamed her for anything that went wrong. Her husband accused her of not showing enough affection and care for him

The abuse started about 5 years ago when her husband’s business failed and he started to take drugs and alcohol excessively. The physical and verbal abuses became more intense over time. He would hit her with anything that was in his reach and he would also throw and break things around the house. He has even broken her ribs before after he physically abused her. Husband was very insecure and he started having affair.

Zara kept everything internally and never sought for help because she always blamed herself and did not know where to seek help from at that time. After seeking shelter in WAO, the social workers are helping her get birth certificates for her eldest daughter and youngest son. Her husband refuses to apply for the children. He also refused to renew her spousal visa as she is a foreigner in Malaysia, and she has been undocumented for a few months. Her children have not gone to school for 2 years and she worries about the children’s future.

After staying in the shelter for about two weeks, Zara and her husband got back together. Her husband promised her he will change and he promised to get all her children birth certificates. She was vulnerable and fell for his apologies and wanted to give him a second chance. After several months, Zara and her four children came back to WAO’s shelter because the violence had repeated. She and her children have been in and out of the shelter 10 times. She knew that she has had enough.

Zara is now staying independently and working in a hair salon. She was not the same person as before, the shy and timid person when she first came to WAO. She is now empowered and independent, she believes that she can do things by herself and does not blame herself anymore. She does not need to stay in fear anymore. She has found her self-worth and confidence, but most of all, she has empowered herself to tell her husband, ‘I’m worth it’ and walk away from the abusive home with her children.