Please see below for MARUAH’s letter to the Indian High Commissioner to Singapore.
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Your Excellency,
We, members of a human rights group called MARUAH which is based in Singapore, would like to offer our deepest condolences to the family, friends and the people of India over the sad passing away of the 23-year-old woman who was brutally gang-raped. We are sorry that every effort made to save her life has failed. Read the rest of this entry »
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Posted by lee sze yong
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 »
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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 »
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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.
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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 »
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The theme for this year’s International Day of Persons with Disabilities is “Removing barriers to create an inclusive and accessible society for all”.
To observe this day, we want to help remove barriers that limit accessibility and participation by persons with disabilities in all aspects of society and development. The first part of our initiative is to collate feedback from you and to pass them on to the relevant government agencies.
Article 9 of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities states that
‘State Parties shall take appropriate measures to ensure to persons with disabilities access, on an equal basis with others, to the physical environment, to transportation, to information and communications, including information and communications technologies and systems, and to other facilities and services open or provided to the public, both in urban and in rural areas’.
The Government has indeed taken steps to improve the lives of persons with disabilities. For instance, the Building and Construction Authority (“BCA”) has set up the “Our Friendly Built Environment Portal” to create awareness on friendly built environments which is key to making Singapore an all-inclusive and barrier-free society.
However, we would to bring more attention to this portal and to complement the feedback mechanism which has been provided at BCA’s website.
From now until 31 December 2012, whenever you come across any area(s) which has been well designed for persons with disabilities or any area(s) which can be improved, please provide us with your feedback in the following format and provide pictures where possible. Read the rest of this entry »
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MARUAH has released the following media release.
Also see links below
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 »
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The ASEAN Human Rights Declaration has been published. [source]
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ASEAN HUMAN RIGHTS DECLARATION
WE, the Heads of State/Government of the Member States of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (hereinafter referred to as “ASEAN”), namely Brunei Darussalam, the Kingdom of Cambodia, the Republic of Indonesia, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Malaysia, the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, the Republic of the Philippines, the Republic of Singapore, the Kingdom of Thailand and the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam, on the occasion of the 21st ASEAN Summit in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
REAFFIRMING our adherence to the purposes and principles of ASEAN as enshrined in the ASEAN Charter, in particular the respect for and promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms, as well as the principles of democracy, the rule of law and good governance; Read the rest of this entry »
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The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) is an international treaty that promotes and protects the rights of persons with all types of disabilities. It is important for all of us (disabled or able-bodied) to get together to support this discussion to foreground the importance of ratifying this international treaty in Singapore.
To join us for our discussion, please RSVP here.
Date: Sat 1 Dec 2012
Time: 9.45am to 2pm (light lunch provided)
Venue: Disabled People’s Association [map]
1 Jurong West Central 2
#04-01 Jurong Point Shopping Centre
Singapore 648886
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Posted by lee sze yong
We, members of MARUAH, held a consultation with organisations and the public on the ASEAN Human Rights Declaration (AHRD), a document that we have been anxiously waiting for. We have been actively engaged on the AHRD, submitting reports and holding consultations at the local level.
We appreciate the work put in by the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) representatives, their support staff and the hard work too of the ASEAN Secretariat. In November 2012, ASEAN leaders will adopt the AHRD as a document for the people of ASEAN.
Whilst we congratulate the AICHR team for completing what is often described a difficult feat, we will need to register our deepest concerns and regrets in this matter. Read the rest of this entry »
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