The 63-year-old is the first Singaporean to win a seat on the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (Cedaw).

She will join 22 other men and women from around the world, all experts 'of high moral standing and competence in the fields covered by the Convention', next January.

'It was an exhilarating experience,' said Mrs Tan, who was elected by officials from more than 170 countries that have agreed to comply with Cedaw's terms, on Aug 5.

The grandmother of two, who spent the past year campaigning for a seat, added: 'Cedaw is a very important tool that has impact on the lives of women worldwide.'

The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women is an international legal instrument that defines women's rights and ensures their enforcement.

She and other committee members - who include social workers and ambassadors - will have to monitor women's progress in nations that are parties to the Convention and make recommendations on issues that require more attention.

Singapore acceded to the Convention in 1995. So have 176 other countries, who are party to the Convention. Each can nominate an individual to the committee. Mrs Tan is the first person to be nominated by the Singapore Government.

The director of the family policy unit at the Ministry of Community Development and Sports (MCDS), Ms Charlotte Beck, said: 'Anamah is one of our pioneers in the women's rights movement here and has done a lot domestically, regionally and internationally.'

She added that Mrs Tan will not represent the Government or Singapore but will be regarded as an independent expert.

Mrs Tan has headed several high-profile women's organisations both locally and internationally, including the International Council of Women, arguably the world's oldest global women's group.

She has also pushed for the formation of a Family Court and has been instrumental in articulating the concerns of women during the amendment of the Women's Charter here in 1996.

Since acceding to Cedaw in 1995, Singapore has worked to advance the female cause, said MCDS' Ms Beck. These include starting a Women's Desk at the ministry in 2002 to address women's issues.

Said Ms Beck: 'The desk has been working with other agencies to identify a few things to concentrate on, such as giving older women skills to re-enter the labour force.'