MARUAH Singapore

We note that the United Nations (UN) Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) is a core human rights treaty that all ASEAN states have signed and/or ratified. We therefore believe that it is important for Singapore to be a leader within the ASEAN family by upholding the values and obligations of the CRPD. In the spirit of greater participation and civic involvement, MARUAH, as a group focusing on the mainstreaming of human rights, and our main partner, the Disabled People’s Association (DPA) organised a consultation in February 2012 on areas where more can be done to support the rights of persons with disabilities in Singapore.

This consultation process involved persons with disabilities, including persons with sensory disabilities and physical disabilities, as well as other concerned members of the public. Following this consultation, MARUAH and DPA formulated a position paper and met with the Ministry Of Community Development, Youth and Sports [now known as the Ministry of Social and Family Development] (MSF) to highlight areas where improvements can be made to better fulfil the letter and spirit of the CRPD.

We, the participants of the 2nd consultation on the CRPD held on 1st December 2012, organised by MARUAH and DPA, would like to make the following points in this public statement. Read the rest of this entry »

MARUAH has released the following media release.

Also see links below

1. media report on MARUAH media release
2. UN website on International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women

International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women
25 November 2012

On 17 December 1999, the United Nations General Assembly designated 25 November as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women; it was the same date as the brutal assassination in 1960, of the three Mirabal sisters, political activists in the Dominican Republic, on orders of Dominican ruler Rafael Trujillo (1930-1961).

Women’s organisations as well as human rights activists around the world have marked 25 November as a day against violence since 1981.
In Singapore, MARUAH joins women’s organisations in remembering this day and calls on all Singaporeans in whatever strata of society to eschew all forms of violence against women here. We call for the strengthening of civil and social safeguards to prevent violence against women and for increased awareness that violence against women is unacceptable and deplorable. Read the rest of this entry »

Bus captain in trouble for insulting a transgender woman

MARUAH applauds Ms. Leona Lo for taking action against the SBS bus driver who verbally abused her because of her sexual orientation. Discrimination of any form is unacceptable and it is important that they are reported and addressed immediately.

Article 12 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) states

“No one shall be subjected to arbitrary interference with…attacks upon his honour and reputation. Everyone has the right to the protection of the law against such interference or attacks.”

MARUAH commends Ms. Leona Lo for handling the situation with grace and for her efforts in raising awareness of the struggles faced by the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) community.

PRESS STATEMENT

20 September 2012

Reference: Archbishop Clarifies Retraction of Letter to Group

MARUAH, a human rights NGO, is a partner with Function 8, in particular for the June 2nd 2012 event to mark the 25th Anniversary of the alleged Marxist Conspiracy. MARUAH’s position is that it is timely for a Commission of Inquiry to be set up to review the detentions under Operation Spectrum.

Read the rest of this entry »

Dear Members, Volunteers and Friends,

Today is World Press Freedom Day. It is important that we acknowledge this date to

1. celebrate the fundamental principles of press freedom;
2. assess the state of press freedom throughout the world;
3. defend the media from attacks on their independence;
4. pay tribute to journalists who have lost their lives in the line of duty.

As a human rights advocacy group, MARUAH has reported on limited media freedom in Singapore at the Human Rights Council through the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) process last year.

MARUAH calls upon the Singapore government to also observe this day and in doing so, consider review of the Newspaper and Printing Presses Act (NPPA) to give freedom to the media. Read the rest of this entry »

Dear Members, Volunteers and Friends,

Today is Labour Day. MARUAH would like to wish all Singaporean and foreign workers a happy Labour Day!

We would like to appreciate the work put in, on a daily basis, by all in Singapore. A worker needs to be respected not just on May 1st but everyday.

The government is increasing its efforts to offer more protection and security to workers. In the recent year these are some of the efforts:

1. More measures to enable workers to upgrade skills,
2. More measures to protect workers with regard to Workplace Safety and Health,
3. Incentives to hire persons with disabilities (PWDs),
4. Legislation on mandatory day-off for Foreign Domestic Workers,
5. Anti-discrimination campaign in workplaces by fair employment watchdog, the Tripartite Alliance for Fair Employment Practices (TAFEP)

However, MARUAH is deeply concerned about two issues this Labour Day and seeks remedial action for two communities that need protection the most.

Read the rest of this entry »