MARUAH Singapore

The United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child has issued its concluding observations after considering the consolidated second and third periodic reports submitted by Singapore.

Click here (Word document) to download the document.

As a State party to the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), Singapore is obliged to submit regular reports to the Committee on how the rights are being implemented.

Other related documents can be found on the webpage below.
http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/crc/crcs56.htm (scroll down to ‘Singapore’)

Please see PDF and below for Media Advisory on MARUAH’s View of the Police Investigations into SFD Members’ Sale of Death Penalty Book.

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MEDIA ADVISORY

For immediate release

29 January 2011

MARUAH’s View of the Police Investigations into SFD Members’ Sale of Death Penalty Book

MARUAH notes the statement by NGO Singaporeans for Democracy (SFD) and various media reports about the recent initiation of police investigations into three SFD members over their alleged sale of copies of the book Once A Jolly Hangman: Singapore Justice in the Dock at a film screening held on 14 November 2010 at the Substation. The SFD members are being investigated under Section 502 of the Penal Code, for the knowing “sale of printed or engraved substance containing defamatory matter”.

Although the police commenced investigations against Mr Alan Shadrake, the author of the book, for criminal defamation in 2010, no formal charges have been instituted. It is thus troubling how an investigation can begin into the sale of printed substance containing defamatory matter if the book in question has not been found by a court of law to be defamatory. Indeed, charges have not even been brought.

MARUAH therefore calls upon the Singapore Police Force to explain why it is initiating these criminal investigations on the three SFD members in relation to the sale of the book, when the author himself has not been charged.

Furthermore, if the Government’s position is that the sale of the book would be unlawful, then the proper course of action is to ban the book outright, which is a transparent action that is accountable and subject to judicial review of the courts where appropriate, and also conforms with the rule of law.

MARUAH President Braema Mathi says: “These criminal investigations by the police carry a much heavier ‘footprint’ than contempt proceedings. In this case it is bewildering why the police are investigating sellers of the book when there is no criminal defamation charge against the author or contempt proceedings against the three members.

”MARUAH is opposed to investigations without any reasonable basis, as these will only serve to significantly chill public debate on the death penalty and detract from Singaporeans’ constitutional right to free expression. ”

The Human Rights Internship Programme aims to train students or graduates from a range of educational and professional backgrounds to deepen their theoretical knowledge of human rights in Singapore and in ASEAN. It will give them an opportunity to develop a more profound understanding of human rights challenges in Singapore and in ASEAN. There will be practical experience of work in NGOs and civil society while learning different advocacy, campaigning, researching and networking skills.

MARUAH welcomes highly motivated candidates to join us in our work of promoting and protecting human rights. The project work can be for a term of three months or for a semester of six months. Candidates are expected to complete a project with MARUAH and a Commitment Contract will be drawn between the organisation and the candidate.

Please bear in mind though that we do not have the means to pay interns. Applicants are advised to seek financial support independently. Those interested please write to maruahsg@gmail.com with a letter of expression of interest and a CV.

Singapore’s human rights record with regards to child rights will be reviewed at the upcoming 56th session of the Committee on the Rights of the Child.

Singapore, being a state party to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), is obliged to submit regular reports to the Committee on how the rights are being implemented.

States must report initially two years after acceding to the Convention and then every five years. The Committee examines each report and addresses its concerns and recommendations to the State party in the form of “concluding observations”.

Visit the webpage below to view the documents that have been uploaded

1. 2nd and 3rd (combined) periodic report submitted by the Singapore Government
2. List of issues (questions by the CRC committee)
3. Written reply to list of issues

http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/crc/crcs56.htm

A commentary article appeared in TODAY calling on Singapore to sign the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

Link

MARUAH (Working Group for an ASEAN Human Rights Mechanism, Singapore) and the Singapore Film Society are proud to present “The Way I See It: Stories on Human Rights”, a film screening on 10 December 2010 to commemorate Human Rights Day.

The highly-acclaimed Stories on Human Rights was a film project commissioned by the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in 2008 to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights. Stories on Human Rights features the work of twenty-two directors inspired by the six themes of the Universal Declaration: culture, development, dignity and justice, environment, gender and participation.

More information on the film can be found here.

You can also view the trailer.

Admission is free, but prior registration is required as seats are limited. The screenings will be at Level 5, The Cathay, 2 Handy Road.

PROGRAM
Friday 10 December 2010
8:30 pm – Registration & ticket collection
9:30 pm – Film screening, followed by post-film discussion

HOW TO REGISTER
To register, please fill in the form at http://bit.ly/maruahfilm

Because of limited seats, we cannot reserve more than 4 seats per person. You will receive an email in response, which will state clearly whether your request is confirmed, or you are on the waiting list.

If it is confirmed,you need to pick up your tickets at the door on the day of the screening no later than 9:00 pm, otherwise the tickets will be released to those on the waiting list. Tickets will be issued on a “best available seat” basis.

The film has been rated R21. Age verification will be conducted at the door; please bring some identification with you.

30^th November to 1^st December 2010
Plaza Room 1, Park Royal Hotel, Beach Road, Singapore

Organised by
Working Group for an ASEAN Human Rights Mechanism

Partnered by
MARUAH (Working Group for an ASEAN Human Rights Mechanism, Singapore)
Singapore Compact on CSR
ASEAN Business Network on CSR
CSR Asia

Read the rest of this entry »

In response to the United Nations’ recent call to end the use of the death penalty, MARUAH is issuing the attached media statement.

MARUAH organised an event at Speakers’ Corner on 30th October, in conjunction with a postcard campaign, to draw attention to the upcoming elections in Burma/Myanmar. The postcard contents are reproduced below.

To the government of Singapore:

We also want our government to support the call made by UN to establish a UN Commission of Inquiry into the international crimes in Myanmar/Burma.

Photos of the event can be viewed below.