• About Us
    • Fact Checking Policy
    • Ownership & funding information
    • Volunteer
  • Subscribe
  • Letter submission
    • Submissions Policy
  • Contact Us
The Online Citizen Asia
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Commentaries
    • Letters
    • Comments
  • Current Affairs
    • Singapore
    • Malaysia
    • Indonesia
    • China
    • ASEAN
    • Asia
    • International
  • Finance
    • Economics
    • Labour
    • Property
    • Business
  • Community
    • Arts & Culture
    • Consumer Watch
    • NGO
    • Lifestyle
    • Travel
  • Politics
    • Civil Society
    • Parliament
    • Transport
    • Education
    • Environment
    • Health
    • Housing
  • Law & Order
    • Legislation
    • Court Cases
No Result
View All Result
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Commentaries
    • Letters
    • Comments
  • Current Affairs
    • Singapore
    • Malaysia
    • Indonesia
    • China
    • ASEAN
    • Asia
    • International
  • Finance
    • Economics
    • Labour
    • Property
    • Business
  • Community
    • Arts & Culture
    • Consumer Watch
    • NGO
    • Lifestyle
    • Travel
  • Politics
    • Civil Society
    • Parliament
    • Transport
    • Education
    • Environment
    • Health
    • Housing
  • Law & Order
    • Legislation
    • Court Cases
No Result
View All Result
The Online Citizen Asia
No Result
View All Result

Forum-ASIA and Think Centre: Revisit positions on capital punishment and preventive detention

by onlinecitizen
24/09/2011
in Current Affairs
Reading Time: 3 mins read
0

the following is a media release by Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) and Think Centre at the 18th Regular Session of the UN Human Rights Council Item 6: Universal Periodic Review (UPR) Plenary on Singapore:

—
Thank you, Madam President. The government of Singapore’s central argument during the UPR Working Group session on 6 May 2011 was that a “balance” between economic prosperity and restrictions on fundamental rights and freedoms are necessary in the Singaporean context,[1] yet the outcomes of the General and Presidential Elections held in May and August 2011 indicate that the Singaporean society no longer accepts this rhetoric. FORUM-ASIA and its member Think Centre welcome Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s editorial in the People’s Action Party magazine, Petir, which acknowledged that politics must “evolve to become more consultative and inclusive”.[2] As a concrete first step towards adjusting policies to serve the people better, we urge the government to genuinely and meaningfully engage with a broader selection of civil society in the UPR follow-up process.

In line with the growing sensitisation of Singaporean society with regards to promotion and protection of human rights, we urge the government to sincerely revisit its positions on capital punishment and preventive detention laws by engaging in open consultations with civil society and the general public. We reiterate the recommendations posed by Canada, the Czech Republic, Finland and France that the government impose an indefinite moratorium on the death penalty, with the view towards its complete abolition, to enable the time and space for Singaporeans to engage in open and robust debate on the application of the death penaltyand to explore alternate sentencing options which are in line with international human rights norms and standards. Furthermore, we maintain our call to repeal the Internal Security Act (ISA) and the Criminal Law (Temporary Provisions) Act (CLTPA), which impair the right to due processand judicial protection. These draconian laws are pointless since the Criminal Procedures Code as well as the Penal Code stipulate necessary measures for national security.

Madam President, while the government provided the UPR Working Group with assurances of its policies on migrant labour in Singapore, no efforts are being made to bring the current regulations fully in line with international standards to protect the rights of migrant workers in the country. We highlight the recommendation put forward by Indonesia and appeal to the government to ratify the International Convention of the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Their Families (ICMW) without delay as well as to review and amend all applicable legislations in this respect, particularly the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act, the Employment Agencies Act and the Employment Act. Though no recommendations were put forward by the UPR Working Group with regards to minimum wage for foreign and local workers in Singapore, we view it as an integral component of the rights of all workers to attain a decent and adequate standard of living. As such, FORUM-ASIA and Think Centre strongly urge the government to look beyond the pure economic perspective and adopt arights-based approach in the consideration of a minimum wage legislation. Thank you, Madam President.

—
[1] FORUM-ASIA and Think Centre,Press Release, “UN’s Human Rights Review of Singapore: All Rights AreDerogable Upon National Context?”, 7 May 2011

[2] People’s Action Party, Petir,“New Phase in Politics”, July/August 2011

For just US$7.50 a month, sign up as a subscriber on The Online Citizen Asia (and enjoy ads-free experience on our site) to support our mission to transform TOC into an alternative mainstream press.

Related Posts

Opposition parties greet Singaporeans during CNY festive season
Politics

Opposition parties greet Singaporeans during CNY festive season

30/01/2023
Big C and DHL Supply Chain Thailand deploys electric trucks in joint collaboration to reduce carbon emissions
Environment

Big C and DHL Supply Chain Thailand deploys electric trucks in joint collaboration to reduce carbon emissions

30/01/2023
Gandhi’s killer a hero to India’s diehard Hindu nationalists
AFP

Gandhi’s killer a hero to India’s diehard Hindu nationalists

30/01/2023
Temasek and GIC reportedly in talks with Adani Group accused of “brazen” market manipulation and accounting fraud
Business

Adani Group releases 413-paged response against allegations of “brazen” market manipulation and accounting fraud

30/01/2023
Singapore warns slower economic growth in 2023
Labour

Less than 1 in 10 jobs created in first three quarters of 2022 went to Singaporeans?

28/01/2023
Peru Congress rejects president’s plan for early elections
AFP

Peru Congress rejects president’s plan for early elections

28/01/2023
Subscribe
Connect withD
Login
I allow to create an account
When you login first time using a Social Login button, we collect your account public profile information shared by Social Login provider, based on your privacy settings. We also get your email address to automatically create an account for you in our website. Once your account is created, you'll be logged-in to this account.
DisagreeAgree
Notify of
Connect withD
I allow to create an account
When you login first time using a Social Login button, we collect your account public profile information shared by Social Login provider, based on your privacy settings. We also get your email address to automatically create an account for you in our website. Once your account is created, you'll be logged-in to this account.
DisagreeAgree
0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

Latest posts

Opposition parties greet Singaporeans during CNY festive season

Opposition parties greet Singaporeans during CNY festive season

30/01/2023
Big C and DHL Supply Chain Thailand deploys electric trucks in joint collaboration to reduce carbon emissions

Big C and DHL Supply Chain Thailand deploys electric trucks in joint collaboration to reduce carbon emissions

30/01/2023
Gandhi’s killer a hero to India’s diehard Hindu nationalists

Gandhi’s killer a hero to India’s diehard Hindu nationalists

30/01/2023
Temasek and GIC reportedly in talks with Adani Group accused of “brazen” market manipulation and accounting fraud

Adani Group releases 413-paged response against allegations of “brazen” market manipulation and accounting fraud

30/01/2023
Singapore warns slower economic growth in 2023

Less than 1 in 10 jobs created in first three quarters of 2022 went to Singaporeans?

28/01/2023
Peru Congress rejects president’s plan for early elections

Peru Congress rejects president’s plan for early elections

28/01/2023
UMNO purging members as it sacks former health minister Khairy and suspended ex-defence minister Hishammuddin

UMNO purging members as it sacks former health minister Khairy and suspended ex-defence minister Hishammuddin

28/01/2023
WHO panel in talks on COVID emergency status

WHO panel in talks on COVID emergency status

27/01/2023

Trending posts

Two Indian nationals paid about S$330 and S$730 respectively for forged certificates submitted in their S-Pass application

MOM found issuing EPs meant for foreign PMETs to PRC waitress and general worker

by Correspondent
26/01/2023
40

...

Earning only S$400 a month, delivery-rider turned hawker threw in the towel after two years of running a rojak stall

Earning only S$400 a month, delivery-rider turned hawker threw in the towel after two years of running a rojak stall

by Yee Loon
26/01/2023
24

...

Ho Ching breaks silence over Temasek’s write down of its US$275 million investment in FTX, says it “can afford to be contrarian”

US regulator questions VCs’ due diligence work prior to investing in FTX; Ho Ching says Temasek can afford to be contrarian

by The Online Citizen
24/01/2023
28

...

Indian rupee falls 60% since signing of CECA while Singapore becomes top investor in India

by Correspondent
25/01/2023
59

...

Temasek and GIC reportedly in talks with Adani Group accused of “brazen” market manipulation and accounting fraud

Temasek and GIC reportedly in talks with Adani Group accused of “brazen” market manipulation and accounting fraud

by The Online Citizen
26/01/2023
49

...

Forum-ASIA and Think Centre: Revisit positions on capital punishment and preventive detention

by onlinecitizen
24/09/2011
0

...

September 2011
M T W T F S S
 1234
567891011
12131415161718
19202122232425
2627282930  
« Aug   Oct »
  • About Us
  • Subscribe
  • Letter submission
  • Contact Us

© 2006 - 2021 The Online Citizen

No Result
View All Result
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Commentaries
    • Comments
  • Current Affairs
    • Malaysia
    • Indonesia
    • China
    • ASEAN
    • Asia
    • International
  • Finance
    • Economics
    • Labour
    • Property
    • Business
  • Community
    • Civil Society
    • Arts & Culture
    • Consumer Watch
    • NGO
  • Politics
    • Parliament
    • Transport
    • Education
    • Environment
    • Health
    • Housing
  • Law & Order
    • Legislation
    • Court Cases
  • Lifestyle
    • Travel
  • Subscribers login

© 2006 - 2021 The Online Citizen

wpDiscuz