MARUAH Singapore

Debate and Panel Discussion: Education & The Rights Of The Child

8 October 2013

MARUAH invites you to commemorate Universal Children’s Day by spending an afternoon considering the rights of the child in the Singapore education system.

The Debate
Student debaters from Debate Association (Singapore) will be debate the responsibilities of the parents, schools and policy in the education and well-being of the child. Watch this space for the release of the hot topic motion.

The Discussion
The panel discussion will focus on the development of rights-based education policies including the right to quality education, the right to a child-friendly and healthy learning environment and the provision of a broad-based curriculum.

Join in the discussion with our panel of educators, parents and Adrian Tan- lawyer and author of the bestselling novels The Teenage Textbook and The Teenage Workbook. Read the rest of this entry »

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Public Consultation On ASEAN – 26 Oct 2013

5 October 2013

MARUAH invites you to a Public Consultation on ASEAN. This is an opportunity to become more familiar with ASEAN and its processes, to make a commitment to ASEAN for our own national interests for our community and the people in the region.

We are holding a consultation on the ASEAN Charter as Article 50 of the Charter stipulates that the Charter be reviewed 5 years after its entry into force. The Charter is the fundamental document, a governance code, a code of conduct if you like, in ASEAN. MARUAH believes that the review is necessary to improve and strengthen the regional group, its processes and institutions to serve the people of ASEAN better. Read the rest of this entry »

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Media coverage on MARUAH position paper on GRC system – Part 2

26 August 2013

Yahoo News Singapore carried MARUAH’s response to comments by A/Prof Eugene Tan and Dr Gillian Koh on MARUAH’s position paper on the GRC system.

http://sg.news.yahoo.com/political-analysts-caution-against-reverting-to-all-smc-system-025003999.html

Also see below for more media coverage
http://yawningbread.wordpress.com/2013/08/24/having-race-requirements-in-elections-is-a-form-of-racial-politics/
http://www.breakfastnetwork.sg/?p=7275

Note:
Part 1 of media coverage here
MARUAH’s position paper on the GRC system here

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International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition

23 August 2013

Today, the 23rd of August is the International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition, as designated by United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The day is in remembrance of the atrocities and gross human rights violations committed during the transatlantic slave trade.

The date is of particular significance because it commemorates the 1791 uprising on the island of Santo Domingo (today Haiti and the Dominican Republic), which was a major milestone and catalyst in the eventual abolition of the transatlantic slave trade.

This August 23rd, MARUAH would like to remember the men and women who were denied the very basic right of being a free human being.

For more details, visit the link below.

http://www.unesco.org/new/en/unesco/events/prizes-and-celebrations/celebrations/international-days/slave-trade-and-its-abolition/

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Media coverage on MARUAH position paper on GRC system

20 August 2013

Both mainstream & social media reported on MARUAH’s position paper on the Group Representation Constituency (GRC) system

Channel News Asia
MARUAH Proposes “Ethnic Balancing Contingency System” As Alternative To GRC http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/maruah-proposes-ethnic/782158.html

Read the rest of this entry »

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Defending the Legitimacy of Singapore Elections: MARUAH Position Paper on the GRC system

19 August 2013

MARUAH has published a position paper on the Group Representation Constituency (GRC) system in elections in Singapore.

In this position paper, the second in its electoral reform series, MARUAH approaches the issue of Group Representation Constituencies (GRCs) from the standpoint of the right to representative government as well as free and fair elections.

This paper concurs with the goal of ensuring minority representation in Parliament. However it argues that the GRC system is a poor tool to this end because it creates more impediments to electoral and representational fairness than it solves.

See links below for the documents

Click the link below to see the 1st position paper in our electoral reform series.
https://maruah.org/2013/02/06/defending-the-legitimacy-of-singapore-elections-maruah-position-paper-on-improving-citizen-confidence-in-the-secrecy-of-the-ballot/

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Queries on death of prison inmate Dinesh Raman s/o Chinnaiah

12 August 2013

MARUAH submitted the letter below to the Straits Times forum on 29 July 2013. It was not published.

————————————————–

29 July 2013
The Editor
Forum Page
The Straits Times

Dear Sir,

We refer to the articles “Fierce struggle lasted about 30 min” (ST, July 20 2013) and the Attorney General Chambers’ (AGC) response “AGC clarifies why no Coroner’s Inquiry was held for prison inmate’s death” (ST Online, 25 July 2013 9.18 pm).

We extend our condolences to the family of Mr Dinesh. We also raise our concerns here. Read the rest of this entry »

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Celebrating International Nelson Mandela Day With MARUAH

10 August 2013

On 18th of July, MARUAH celebrated International Nelson Mandela Day with an evening of music, poetry and tributes to Nelson Mandela. The day was designated by United Nations as International Nelson Mandela Day in 2009, in commemoration of Nelson Mandela’s fight for democracy and human rights.

Read the rest of this entry »

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MARUAH letter to ST Forum on UN disability convention

24 July 2013

MARUAH has written a letter to the Straits Times Forum, following the ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD).

http://www.straitstimes.com/premium/forum-letters/story/further-ways-ensure-equality-disabled-people-20130724

Further ways to ensure equality for disabled people

LAST Saturday’s report (“S’pore ratifies UN accord on disabled rights”) and the Ministry of Social and Family Development’s press statement last Friday highlighted Singapore’s ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). Read the rest of this entry »

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MARUAH celebrates Nelson Mandela Day – 18th July

9 July 2013

MARUAH is celebrating Nelson Mandela. We are organising International Mandela Day to reiterate our commitment to the values that he has upheld.

Democracy, human rights, peace and being of service to the community – important values.

Please do come and celebrate with us. We hope many will also opt to express their thoughts and make this their event – to celebrate the life of a person who inspires.

Stand with us to take a pledge to uphold these values and to act on them.

Date: Thursday, 18th July (Nelson Mandela’s birthday)

Time: 7.30pm – 8.37pm; please try to come by 7.15pm

Venue: Marketing Institute of Singapore
410 North Bridge Road Singapore 188726 [map]
RSVP at our Facebook Event Page

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