Yap Women's Association is a women's rights organisation in Yap State, in the Federated States of Micronesia. Founded in 1955 as a non-profit, it works to provide resources for women in the state.
The YAP Women's Association was founded in 1955 as a non-profit initiative to represent the women's groups in Yap State.[1] One of its founders was nurse and activist Anna Falgog, who brought together women who worked in government to set up a women's group.[2]
The YWA acts as an intermediary between the national government and local groups.[3] As reported in 1992, the YWA could provide catering and dancers for events targeted at tourists.[4] In 1995 the YWA supported the Pacific Islands Association of Libraries and Archives Conference, represented by Laura Tiningdad.[5] As of 2001, a member of the YWA served each year on the Yap Day committee.[6] In 2009, the association supported the creation of the Neighboring Islands Women Association, to deliver services for the outer islands surrounding Yap, led by Irene Futumai.[7]
As of 2013, seventy-three groups were registered with the association.[1] In 2017 the Chinese government gave the association a grant of $120,000 to fund the construction of new building.[8] Between 2015 and 2019, murdered assistant attorney general, Rachelle Bergeron, worked closely with and updated the bye-laws of the YWA.[9][10] In 2018 the YWA hosted Baklai Temengil and Jennifer Chieng in the run up to the 2018 MicroGames.[11]
As of 2020, the President of the YWA was Laura Ngaden.[9] In 2013 she was the State Electoral Commissioner.[12]