MARUAH Singapore

The Thai Constitution and Human Rights

Human rights during times of turmoil

VITIT MUNTARBHORN

December 10 is a special day for at least two reasons. It is Thailand’s Constitution Day and also the anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the “Magna Carta” (Great Charter) of human rights adopted by the United Nations in 1948.

While some may claim that we should be celebrating the 60th birthday of that seminal document this week, others may prefer to call for its commemoration, given the turmoil surrounding the implementation of human rights in many countries.
Read the rest of this entry »

A long way to go for human rights in Asia

Published on December 10, 2008

Thailand aims to lead Asean in improving protection, but our own record also falls short

Today is International Human Rights Day and also the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UNDHR). When Thailand signed the UNDHR in 1948, it became the boldest country in Asia by acceding to the universal norms that respect human rights. It was the first Asian country to do so. That was a remarkable undertaking, achieved at a time when Thailand, like other countries, had just emerged from the destruction of World War II. Thailand wanted to join the international community as soon as possible. After officially supporting the Japanese against the Allied forces, Thailand wanted to clean up its recent past by quickly embracing the United Nations and other related international activities. International organisations, including their universal values and shared norms, served as a shield for Thailand against the threat of communism.
Read the rest of this entry »

Six decades after affirmation, challenges remain

NAVANETHEM PILLAY

Today we celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, a document that marked a crucial turning point in human history as the first international agreement setting out freedoms, rights and entitlements for all humanity to claim.

Six decades ago, it affirmed that the force of shared ideas and a common vision of respectful and peaceful coexistence can prevail over brutality, hatred and destruction.

Since then, the world may have changed a great deal, but the recognition of our inherent kinship in rights, of our common claim to a life in dignity, of our right to count and be counted irrespective of our ancestry, gender and colour, status and creed applies to today’s realities as much as it did in 1948.
Read the rest of this entry »

All of us from the Singapore Working Group on ASEAN Human Rights (MARUAH) express our heartfelt sympathy to the familiy of Ms Lo Hwei Yen.

It is unconscionable to murder for any cause, however important that cause may seem to be.

We are sorry that it happened and strongly encourage world leaders to find better solutions to get to the root causes that breed such a lack of regard for human lives.

The 1st of a series of events to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights started today at the Jurong Regional Library. A storytelling session for children was conducted by the U60 team.

Another session will be held tomorrow (30th November 2008) at 2pm. This event is part of U60.

A new book on non-profit organisations, by Willie Cheng, was recently launched. Details on the website here.

MARUAH is organising a public consultation on 6th September 2008 to collect feedback from Singaporeans regarding the ASEAN human rights body.

Why is your input important?
Across ASEAN, the views of various stakeholders are being sought with regard to the proposed ASEAN human rights body. It is important that Singaporeans have a say in this process.

Why is the ASEAN human rights body important?
In its recent progress chart (PDF) on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), the United Nations (UN) said the South-East Asian region as a whole is not expected to meet 4 of the 8 MDG targets. These 4 are:
Goal 2 – universal primary schooling
Goal 3 – gender equality and empowerment of women
Goal 5 – improve maternal health
Goal 6 – combat HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other diseases

The UN also said in a report that the human rights focus must be re-emphasised if the MDGs are to be achieved in a sustainable manner.

This is why it is so important that an effective ASEAN human rights body is established, and that a rights-based approach is taken as ASEAN works towards its 3 pillars (Security, Economic, and Socio-Cultural) of development. A rights-based approach would help to ensure that, in the shaping and implementation of policies, there is both transparency and accountability. It is another way to really help the people in our region.

Details of public consultation
Date: 6th September 2008, Saturday
Time: 10am to 1pm
Venue: Singapore Council of Women’s Organisations (SCWO)
96 Waterloo Street
Singapore 187967

Please register early with the MARUAH Secretariat with your name, organisation and contact details via email: maruahsg@gmail.com

MARUAH will be participating in the above-mentioned consultation, scheduled to be held at Bangkok, Thailand, from 15th to 17th September 2008. MARUAH will be represented by Ms Braema Mathi, who is also the Chairperson of the CEDAW Committee at the Association of Women for Action and Research (AWARE).

The consultation aims to

– provide an update on recent developments in ASEAN

– develop a regional civil society advocacy strategy on the establishment of both the ASEAN Commission on the rights of women and children, and the ASEAN human rights body.

– help the women and child rights groups step up the engagement process with ASEAN

Ms Braema Mathi from MARUAH recently attended the 2nd Regional Consultation on ASEAN and Human Rights, held in Jakarta on 5-7th August 2008.

The consultation brought together representatives from various NGOs, Indonesian Government, ASEAN Secretariat, Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Working Group for an ASEAN Human Rights Mechanism, and National Human Rights Institutions in ASEAN.

Discussion centred around how the proposed ASEAN human rights body would be able to address critical human rights issues confronting ASEAN.

Participants shared their views on strategies to engage effectively with ASEAN governments, ASEAN Secretariat, and High Level Panel (HLP) members.