MARUAH Singapore

MARUAH’s statement in response to the rioting at Little India on 8 Dec 2013.

It is sad and tragic that there was a riot in Little India last night where people were hurt and property destroyed. We offer our deepest condolences to the family of the worker who died and we hope that justice will be done for him. We are confident that the Coroner’s inquiry will be open and fair and will help bring some relief to his family.

What happened is wrong and attacking civil defence and police officers who are doing their jobs is unacceptable by international human rights norms. Read the rest of this entry »

Press Statement

World AIDS Day – December 1st, 2013

MARUAH recognises the importance of World AIDS Day On 1 Dec 2013. Together with the World Health Organization’s UNAIDS, we echo the call for zero new infections, zero discrimination and zero AIDS deaths. Read the rest of this entry »

Violence against anyone is a human rights violation. Today, 25th of November is a special day to focus on violence against one group – women. Set aside by the United Nations (UN) as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, this day is one of commitment to stop the violence against women and to affirm that it is NOT right for women and girls to face any form of violence in the home, at school, at the workplace and in the streets. The sobering fact, according to UN, is that globally, seven in 10 women face some form of violence in their lives. In Singapore, research conducted by the International Violence against Women Survey indicated that 9.2% of the 2006 Singaporean women surveyed experienced some form of violence during their adult lives (from the age of 16) . Read the rest of this entry »

Today is International Migrants Day. In 2000 the UN General Assembly proclaimed 18th December as International Migrants Day to raise attention to the rights of the large and increasing number of migrants in the world. In 1990 the General Assembly adopted the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families.

In Singapore, MARUAH, a human rights organisation, observes International Migrants Day by commenting on the treatment of foreign workers by employers in Singapore in general, in light of the recent incidents of foreign workers refusing to work. In particular, we encourage Singaporeans and the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) to give full effect to the new policy of giving a Day Off to foreign domestic workers starting in the 1st week of January 2013. Read the rest of this entry »

We refer to the recent denial of entry of the MV Nosco Victory carrying 40 people rescued off the coast of Myanmar.

MARUAH, a human rights group, would like to praise the Captain of the MV Nosco Victory Mr Nguyen Dinh Hoa for rescuing the Rohingyas at sea, saving many lives and observing the honour code among seafarers.

We would also like to make three points for Singaporeans and the Singapore authorities to consider. Read the rest of this entry »

Today is the International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers. MARUAH, as a human rights organisation, stands in solidarity with human rights defenders and sex workers worldwide to observe and commemorate this day, dedicated to the protection of the rights, safety, and dignity of sex workers.

Sex workers in most parts of the world are in a marginalised and discriminated segment of society. Their rights as sex workers include the right to safe sex, right to fair wages, right to protection from abuse, right for sex work to be recognised and be seen as work, right to form associations for mutual support and protection, and the right to not be discriminated against.

In Singapore, despite the presence of licensed brothels, there is a growing community of sex workers who are freelancing. They risk being exploited. MARUAH would like to raise awareness to their plight, even though they are operating outside the licensed brothels.

Some among them as well as those working in licensed brothels may be forced or sold into prostitution. These women and men, usually young, who are identified as trafficked persons, must be given protection, and they should not be criminalised and re-victimised by the authorities, in the process.