It was founded in 1982 and continues to play a leading role in the Malaysian women's rights movement working within the fields of advocacy, public education as well as law and policy reforms.
These pioneer volunteers worked as a collective to formulate the operating principles of self-help and self-empowerment for battered women who turned to WAO for help.
In the past years it has also become a shelter for abused migrant workers, trafficked women, asylum seekers and single mothers.
There is also professional telephone counselling for women who face domestic violence, rape, sexual abuse and as well for those who have questions on marriage and divorce.
[3] In March 2014, WAO launched the first live SMS helpline, TINA, to support survivors of domestic violence and women in crisis.
TINA was launched as part of the WAO's national campaign, #NoExcuseForAbuse to mark International Women's Day on 8 March 2014.
WAO launched its national public education campaign #NoExcuseForAbuse on 8 March 2014, to highlight the issue of domestic violence.
The campaign included the launch of an art exhibition that featured embroidered blouses, hand stitched with the thoughts that represent the voices of victim survivors.
[7] To mark Valentine's Day, 2014, WAO distributed roses as part of an awareness campaign to remind people that Love Should be Unconditional.