Media release – International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women

27 November 2012

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 »

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ASEAN Human Rights Declaration

19 November 2012

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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Public Consultation on the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

19 November 2012

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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MARUAH statement on the ASEAN Human Rights Declaration

10 November 2012

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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MARUAH’s comments on verbal abuse incident

5 October 2012

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.

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Commemorating the UN International Day of Peace

26 September 2012

On 22 September 2012, MARUAH observed the UN International Day of Peace and participated in celebrations organised by the Jane Goodall Institute at Fort Canning Park, Singapore.

The International Day of Peace is observed every year to commemorate global peace and a cessation of hostility and violence. It was first declared by the United Nations in 1982 and constantly seeks to remind us that ‘our permanent commitment, above all interests or differences of any kind, is to peace’. Read the rest of this entry »

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Press statement on Archbishop retraction of letter

21 September 2012

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 »

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MARUAH letter to ST Forum on M Ravi

4 September 2012

MARUAH recently submitted a letter to the Straits Times Forum on actions taken by the Law Society of Singapore in respect of Mr M. Ravi.

The forum letter can be found at the link below.
http://www.straitstimes.com/archive/monday/premium/forum-letters/story/concerned-about-actions-taken-law-society-20120903

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Death penalty no longer mandatory for certain cases: MARUAH welcomes changes as first step towards universal human rights norms

9 July 2012

MARUAH welcomes the announcement by the Singapore Government today, that the death penalty will no longer be mandatory in certain limited circumstances. At the same time, MARUAH regrets the narrow scope of this move, and notes that the mandatory death penalty remains in place for many other offences.

Read the rest of this entry »

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3rd MARUAH submission on ASEAN Human Rights Declaration

9 July 2012

Please see below for MARUAH’s 3rd submission on the ASEAN Human Rights Declaration. Our submission can also be downloaded as a PDF. For reference, we include our 1st and 2nd submissions.

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8 July 2012

To the ASEAN Foreign Ministers & AICHR representatives,

Dear Sirs and Madams,

We take this opportunity to thank the members of the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) for their dedication to the service at the regional level and to the teams that work with them.

In a very short period of time they have framed the most important document for ASEAN, with the help of the Drafting Group. We also thank the AICHR members for agreeing to meet Civil Society Organisations in a Regional Consultation on 22nd June 2012, which we found useful.

As a human rights organisation from Singapore, we submit the following key areas of concern as the deliberation over the ASEAN Human Rights Declaration continues. This consultation among civil society actors was done over a 3-hour interaction and we submit these humbly to ask for a consideration on the most important document that will drive ASEAN and its people to a better future in the years to come. Read the rest of this entry »

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