As a human rights group, MARUAH, makes this stand that this Public Order Bill ought not to be passed in Parliament. This Bill is not a useful instrument to secure public order in Little India or in Singapore. It is a Bill that goes against the grain of observing human rights and the dignity of the person, because of the wide-ranging powers that will be bestowed on the officers who will manage the surveillance on the ground. Read the rest of this entry »
MARUAH’s Position On The Public Order (Additional Temporary Measures) Bill
14 February 2014
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MARUAH accorded special consultative status on United Nations Economic and Social Council
14 February 2014MARUAH is pleased to announce that it has been granted special consultative status on the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).
This status will allow MARUAH to voice human rights issues in Singapore and in ASEAN, through this international and well-regarded avenue. MARUAH is the first human rights organisation from Singapore
to be granted this distinct honour. We are also pleased, as part of the UN process, that the government had given its support to ECOSOC for MARUAH to be granted this status.
Speaking of the ECOSOC status, Ms Braema Mathi, President of MARUAH says: “We are indeed honoured that we have been granted this special status. There is much that we can learn from others and much that we can also highlight through this avenue to make Singapore more rights-focused.
MARUAH has been working tirelessly over the last seven years to bring to the attention of Singaporeans and our government to the many instances where our human rights practices can be improved and where rights-based approaches can be adopted.
As much as the ECOSOC status is an honour, it is also a challenge to us to continue our work towards achieving gender equality; realising the rights of the child; ensuring fair and equitable workplace practices; promoting the need for impartial electoral practices and asserting every citizens’ right to education, healthcare and civil liberties.
MARUAH also stands ready to work with other Singaporean organisations in achieving our collective vision of a Singapore where all of us understand not just our responsibilities as citizens but our undeniable rights as enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It is our hope that Singaporeans will support our work.”
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Straits Times report on MARUAH forum on Little India
13 February 2014The Straits Times has published a report on MARUAH’s event on Little India.
“A PROPOSED public order law for Little India that will be debated in Parliament next week was criticised by some civil society activists last night at a forum.”
Full text of the report below.
http://www.singaporelawwatch.sg/slw/index.php/headlines/37175-activists-question-public-order-bill
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TODAY Voices – letter on HPB sexuality FAQs
13 February 2014TODAY has published MARUAH’s forum letter on the Health Promotion Board (HPB) sexuality FAQs.
“MARUAH, as a human rights group, is disturbed that the Health Promotion Board (HPB) amended its FAQ on sexuality because of pressure from faith-based groups and others who oppose discussions on sexual orientation.”
Read the full letter below.
http://www.todayonline.com/voices/faq-educational-tool-should-remain-its-original-form
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Panel discussion – “What’s Up In Little India?”
5 February 2014
Little India is a hot topic right now.
There is a new Bill that might go into effect for a year in Little India.
Is Little India’s culture going to change? What about its landscape?
How will this Bill ensure security?
What is the impact of what is going on in Little India for all of Singapore?
Our panel of experts will share their insights on Little India.
- Dr Kevin Tan, a law academic, publisher and an adjunct professor at National University of Singapore
- Dr Lai Chee Kien, an architectural historian
- Mr T Sasitharan, a theatre educator and the co-founder and director of Intercultural Theatre Institute
Event Details
Date: 12 February 2014
Time: 7.30pm to 9.30pm
Venue:
9 Penang Road
#13-19 Park Mall
Singapore 238459 [map]
Take Dhoby Ghaut MRT Exit B
To register for the event please click here
Please help us spread news of the event by sharing it with those in you network.
You can find the Facebook event page here.
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Submission of wish list for Budget 2014
30 January 2014MARUAH has submitted a wish list of recommendations to the Ministry of Finance/REACH, as part of the Pre-Budget 2014 feedback exercise.
This year, we have focused on 3 broad areas – education, healthcare and retirement – as we hope to advocate for better social protection for Singaporeans.
Please see below for a PDF document of our submission.
WISH LIST FOR SINGAPORE BUDGET 2014- SUBMISSION FROM MARUAH
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MARUAH reply to Ministry of Law on repatriations
23 December 2013MARUAH first wrote to TODAY Voices regarding repatriations relating to Little India riot:
http://www.todayonline.com/voices/due-process-should-not-be-subordinated-expediency
The Ministry of Law replied
(“Singapore’s legal system is firm, just and fair” Ms Praveen Randhawa, Press Secretary to the Ministry for Law, TODAY, Dec 21, 2013):
http://www.todayonline.com/voices/singapores-legal-system-firm-just-and-fair?singlepage=true
Our response to the Ministry of Law is set out below:
The Government’s position, as articulated by Ms Randhawa, is essentially that foreigners are allowed into and to remain in Singapore at the Government’s pleasure, and that they have no right to challenge the Government’s decision on whether they can stay or should leave. We believe that many Singaporeans would respectfully disagree as we do believe that everyone – Singaporean or foreigner – should be given due process to justice and fairness.
Due process fundamentally refers to a requirement that the state respects all the legal rights of a person, in particular when seeking to sanction or penalise that person. The Government argues that foreigners being subject to repatriation are not entitled to due process. This may be the technical position under Singapore law today. But is it the right position for a society that upholds the rule of law? Read the rest of this entry »
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Details relating to change in venue for “Foreign Workers, Justice and Fairness” event
22 December 2013MARUAH had to change the venue for our public forum “Foreign Workers, Justice and Fairness” to be held on Dec 23rd, at extremely short notice. We apologise to the speakers and those who had confirmed their attendance for this event. This posting sets out the events resulting in the change in venue.
The original venue was the hall on the second floor of Ananda Bhavan Restaurant at Syed Alwi Road (opposite Mustafa Centre). MARUAH had already paid for the venue. Publicity posters were released on Thursday.
Yesterday evening (Dec 21st), we received a call from the restaurant’s management to inform us that the police had called them, asked them about the event, and spoken to them about the foreign workers in their employment. Read the rest of this entry »
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Letter to TODAY Voices – Repatriations relating to Little India riot
20 December 2013MARUAH’s letter to TODAY Voices has been published.
Due process should not be subordinated to expediency
We refer to Law and Foreign Affairs Minister K Shanmugam’s statements defending the Government’s powers, under the Immigration Act, to repatriate foreigners outside of the judicial process on the basis of the time and expense of prosecution.He added that these are issues for society to decide. (“28 charged as police complete riot probe”; Dec 18)
MARUAH is troubled by the implications, as there are principles we believe our society should uphold.
Read more at the link below.
http://www.todayonline.com/voices/due-process-should-not-be-subordinated-expediency
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Panel discussion – Foreign Workers, Justice & Fairness [change of venue]
20 December 2013
In the aftermath of the riot at Little India, we as a society need to ensure that we understand the full picture and that the under-lying causes are identified and addressed.
Fairness, Access To Justice, the reality of life of a Foreign Worker in Singapore – These are all issues that we need to work towards improving.
Join us for an open and honest discussion on the issues.
This event is organised by MARUAH in partnership with TWC2 and Workfair Singapore.
Date: 23rd Dec 2013 (Monday)
Time: 7pm to 9pm
Venue: Marketing Institute Of Singapore [please note change of venue]
Room 303
410 North Bridge Road
Singapore 188726
(Opposite National Library Singapore)
Nearest MRT: City Hall
[Map]
Please register at the link below.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/166PkytNj4erRBADR7IGiqSr9JqIr3g9so1cjix9npIA/viewform
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