JWT Launches Guardian Angel Personal Safety 'Wearable Tech' Accessory Line for AWARE to Help Keep Women Safe
Singapore (PRWEB) May 02, 2014 -- To help women combat harassment and easily alert emergency contacts when they face threats to their personal safety, JWT Singapore, in support of the Association of Women for Action and Research (AWARE), has launched the Guardian Angel personal safety accessory line.
Designed in the shape of a halo, The Guardian Angel is a simple but elegant innovation which can be worn as a necklace or a bracelet, so that it’s always accessible. By clicking once on their Guardian Angel pendant, a woman can trigger a call to her own phone during an uncomfortable moment, offering her an excuse to break away from a harasser in a shared space such as an office or a bar. In cases of threat to her personal safety, she can hold the button for three seconds to send an SOS text message to a designated number, such as her parents or a friend, to notify them she is in danger. The text message provides coordinates and a Google Map link to her location.
The inspiration to develop this innovative accessory, came from JWT’s discussions with AWARE, a Singapore-based advocacy organisation that works to promote gender equality, including through providing counselling and services to women.
“AWARE believes in the rights of women to participate in social and public spaces free from harassment and violence,” says Corinna Lim, Executive Director at AWARE. “But especially in a workplace or social scenario, there can be social penalties for confronting harassers directly. The Guardian Angel can help to defuse some harassment situations. The emergency contact function also empowers women to more easily seek help in cases of serious threat.”
“With today’s technology, nothing is impossible unless you try. As a woman, I felt we had to give our best to not just raise awareness about the issue but to try to stop it,” said Valerie Cheng, Chief Creative Officer of JWT Singapore.
Sexual assault is high on the agenda of governments worldwide: Singapore recently passed an anti-harassment law to augment existing legislation and US President Barrack Obama in January established the White House Task Force to Protect Students from Sexual Assault.
Although the Guardian Angel was designed in Singapore, it can be used anywhere in the world. The Guardian Angel’s simple text message functionality also makes it accessible to anyone, regardless of what kind of phone their designated contacts have. While the woman needs to download an app, her contacts don't need to.
The Guardian Angel, which was conceived by JWT Singapore, is sold online by Singaporean retailer My Room Retail at http://www.the-guardianangel.com. Ten percent of each sale of the Guardian Angel will go to AWARE.
“This a generous and wonderful contribution, which will help us to continue to provide counselling and other services to many other women in need,” said Corinna Lim at AWARE.
“A tool like the Guardian Angel could help any number of girls and women, all over the world,” said Frank Bauer, CEO of JWT Singapore. “This is a wonderful example of innovation that makes a real difference.”
About JWT
JWT, the world’s best-known marketing communications brand, has been inventing pioneering ideas for the past 150 years. Headquartered in New York, JWT is a true global network with more than 200 offices in over 90 countries, employing nearly 10,000 marketing professionals. JWT consistently ranks among the top agency networks in the world and continues a dominant presence in the industry by staying on the leading edge—from producing the first-ever TV commercial in 1939 to developing award-winning branded content today
JWT opened its first office in Asia in 1929, and today employs over 3,800 people in 53 offices across 18 countries in the region.
For more information, please visit http://www.jwt.com and follow us @JWT_Worldwide. JWT’s parent company is WPP (NASDAQ: WPPGY).
Contact:
Cris Prystay
Asia Pacific Director of Corporate Communications
+65 6880-5134
cris(dot)prystay(at)jwt(dot)com
Cris Prystay, JWT Asia Pacific, +65 68805134, [email protected]
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