I refer to the article by JJ Ray Getting the boot for being pregnant .

The decision of the Beatrice Fernandez's case will haunt all of us - men and women - for many years to come. With that spectre looming over us, I am most disappointed that Ray appears to be pushing us into an internecine war of words with a fellow believer in our struggle for gender equality.

Just for the record - it is because of the efforts of the women's group, working in a coalition, that the Fernandez case has come to public light.

Despite of the extremely short notice, when we were informed of the Federal Court decision coming up on March 11, representatives of the Joint Action Group Against Violence Against Women (JAG-VAW) were there to lend moral support.

Further, two of JAG-VAW's lawyers were recorded by the Federal Court as holding a watching brief for the group. This because of the impact the decision would have on issues of gender discrimination and more generally on the efficacy of the Constitution to be used as a tool to protect private citizens against discrimination by other citizens - human or corporate.

Immediately after the decision JAG-VAW issued a press statement and the presidents of Women's Centre For Change, Penang (WCC) and the Women's Aid Organisation (WAO) were interviewed by reporters from at least four newspapers.

On March 14, Beatrice's case was brought up by the JAG-VAW group in their meeting with the minister for women, family and community development and discussed at length.

JAG-VAW is also looking into other avenues to ascertain what steps to take next in the case of Fernandez specifically and to deal with gender discrimination generally.

If Ray would care to research more on the work done by JAG-VAW , she will realise that much has been achieved by JAG-VAW - some victories with more fanfare than others.

Similarly, when we give our support, we don't always shout it to the world.