Tag: united nations

Singapore Signs International Convention Against Racial Discrimination

The Republic signed the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD) on Oct 19 (Monday) in New York, and is expected to ratify the ICERD in 2017.

The ICERD is a United Nations Convention that condemns racial discrimination based on race, colour, descent, nationality or ethnic origin, and calls upon states to pursue a policy of eliminating racial discrimination in all its forms.

Said the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth in a statement: “Singapore is committed to preserving a multiracial society where every person is equal, regardless of race, language or religion.

“Our historical memory of racial riots in the early years of our nationhood continues to guide our efforts in striving towards a society free of racism and racial discrimination. Social harmony is not taken for granted, and we have strived continually to strengthen inter-racial and inter-faith understanding and mutual respect.

“Signing the ICERD is part of this endeavour to enhance racial and religious harmony in Singapore.”

Singapore first confirmed its intention to consider acceding to the ICERD in 2011. The MCCY said the Republic will work progressively towards the ratification of the ICERD in 2017, and will work with our stakeholders, including through public consultations, to fulfil our obligations.

Added Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Grace Fu: “Over the last 50 years, we have built a Singapore where every citizen matters, regardless of race, language or religion. This has been our fundamental approach to nation-building and will continue to guide us into the future. Signing the ICERD further entrenches our commitment to this end, to unequivocally show that racial discrimination has no place in Singapore.”

Source: www.channelnewsasia.com

October 20, 2015
UNHCR Expresses Concern On Amos Yee’s Conviction

BANGKOK (22 JUNE 2015) – The United Nations Human Rights Office for South-East Asia (OHCHR) is concerned about the conviction of 16 year-old Amos Yee for uploading remarks and images critical of the late Lee Kuan Yew, the founding Prime-Minister of Singapore. He is due to be sentenced on 23 June 2015. Amos was remanded on 2 June for three weeks after he refused probation and is currently detained in Changi prison where, according to his lawyer, his physical and psychological status is deteriorating.

Amos was convicted on 12 May 2015 on two charges, one of wounding religious feelings under section 298 of the penal code and another for circulating obscene imagery under 292 (1) of the Penal Code. Amos had pleaded not guilty to both offences. OHCHR understands that at the request of the prosecution, Amos is currently being assessed for his suitability for the Reformative Training Centre for a period of at least 18 months.

OHCHR is concerned that the Reformative Training Centre is akin to detention and usually applied to juvenile offenders involved in serious crimes. The District Court of Singapore in a recent case involving a juvenile recognized that the Reformative Training Centre is incarcerative in nature and should be imposed cautiously.

While recognizing the Singapore authorities concern with public morality and social harmony, OHCHR is concerned that the criminal sanctions considered in this case seem disproportionate and inappropriate in terms of the international protections for freedom of expression and opinion.

While Amos himself has refused the option of probation, OHCHR appeals to the Singapore authorities to give special consideration to his juvenile status and ensure his treatment is consistent with the best interests of the child, the principle that lies at the heart of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, to which Singapore is a party.

OHCHR urges the Government to review the conviction of Amos Yee and the prosecutors to drop the demand for sentencing him to the Reformative Training Centre. OHCHR calls for the immediate release of Amos in line with its commitment under the UN Convention on the Rights of Child. OHCHR also hopes that the judiciary will exercise its authority in the protection of human rights including the rights of the child.

ENDS The Regional Office for South-East Asia in Bangkok represents the High Commissioner for Human Rights within South East Asia. The High Commissioner for Human Rights is the principal human rights official of the United Nations and heads the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, which spearheads the United Nations’ human rights efforts .

Source: http://bangkok.ohchr.org

June 23, 2015
What Is The World Press Freedom Day?
World Press Freedom Day was proclaimed by the UN General Assembly in December 1993, following the recommendation of UNESCO’s General Conference. Since then, 3 May, the anniversary of the Declaration of Windhoek is celebrated worldwide as World Press Freedom Day. It is an opportunity to:
- celebrate the fundamental principles of press freedom;
- assess the state of press freedom throughout the world;
- defend the media from attacks on their independence;
- pay tribute to journalists who have lost their lives in the line of duty.
This year UNESCO, the United Nations agency mandated to promote and protect press freedom worldwide, has named renowned journalist and CNN Chief International Correspondent Christiane Amanpour its Goodwill Ambassador for Freedom of Expression and Journalist Safety.

UNESCO is focusing on three themes for World Press Freedom Day this year:
- The need for “quality journalism” – reporting that is accurate and independent, remains a constant concern in a media landscape that is changing due to technological and commercial developments.
- Gender imbalance continues in the media 20 years after the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Change. All too few women journalists are able to reach decision-making positions in the media.
- The third theme is digital safety, a topic of growing concern because digital communications makes it difficult for journalists to protect themselves and their sources.
The annual UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize ceremony will take place on 3 May 2015 at the National Library of Latvia in Riga. The winner is Syrian journalist and human rights activist, Mazen Darwish, who is currently imprisoned.

Source: http://www.un.org/en/events/pressfreedomday/
May 4, 2015
United Nations Suspends Distribution Of World Food Program Vouchers In Embattled Middle East Countries Due To Lack Of Funds

A lack of funds has forced the United Nations to stop providing food vouchers for 1.7 million Syrian refugees in Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey, Iraq and Egypt, the World Food Programme (WFP) said on Monday.

“Without WFP vouchers, many families will go hungry. For refugees already struggling to survive the harsh winter, the consequences of halting this assistance will be devastating,” said the U.N. agency, which needs $64 million to support the refugees for the rest of December.

Suspension of the assistance program comes as many vulnerable Syrian families enter their fourth bleak winter in difficult living conditions after fleeing a homeland racked by conflict since March 2011.

“This couldn’t come at a worse time,” said U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterres in a statement.

The impact could be particularly devastating in Lebanon, where more than 1.1 million Syrian refugees — one-quarter of the country’s permanent population — are scattered across some 1,700 communities, according to the U.N. refugee agency. Many live in makeshift settlements, sheds, garages and unfinished buildings.

The electronic voucher program has already injected about $800 million into local shops in the countries hosting refugees, and WFP will immediately resume it if new funding arrives, it said in the statement.

It was not clear how hungry Syrian refugees might fill the gap left by WFP suspending its voucher program.

WFP had warned last month that it might be forced to impose such a suspension and said it might have to announce a similar measure in January for people reliant on aid within Syria, where at least 7.6 million people are internally displaced.

The Rome-based agency has already cut rations for 4.25 million people it is providing food supplies to in Syria.

“WFP will not be able to continue its life-saving operations inside Syria in February without additional funding,” WFP spokeswoman Elisabeth Byrs told Reuters on Monday.

The U.N. refugee agency has said that a lack of cash has forced it to prioritize as it helps those in need prepare for winter, with preference for people at higher, colder altitudes and vulnerable refugees such as newborn babies. REUTERS

Source: www.todayonline.com

December 2, 2014
SG on Gaza: ‘Analysts’ and ‘Experts’ Should Not Complicate and Obfuscate Conflict

I refer to Mr Goldberg’s article ‘Why Hamas is trying to get Gazans killed‘.

I am quite astonished by the ahistorical approach he has taken, and his attempts to diminish the severity of the over 100 Gazans killed by Israeli attacks, and worse, absolving Israel of any blame.

Interestingly, the number of Israeli casualties/injuries are also not mentioned, hence the grossly brutal and disproportionate nature of the attacks were hidden.

It is also quite astounding that entire blame is shifted to Hamas. Lest we forget, this conflict is not three weeks old, nor is it one that started in 2005 as the author seemingly suggests.

Hamas was founded in the 1980s (and perhaps the author forgets that Israel was at least partially responsible for its creation), while Israel’s occupation began in 1948, and further expanded in 1967. To attribute the effect of occupation as the cause, is at best a rewriting of history, and at worse, disingenuous.

Additionally, the West Bank is not under Hamas; so if Hamas is the problem, why is West Bank still illegally occupied by Israel?

Israel has violated more UN resolutions than any other state in the world, and even though almost the entire world voted at the UN general assembly for an independent Palestine, Israel – backed by the US – purposefully ignores the will of the international community. I wonder why all these basic facts were not mentioned in the letter.

Another unmentioned truth is that whatever actions the Palestinians have taken – armed resistance, ceasefire, negotiations with Israel, going through the UN – the building of Jewish settlements never ceased and in fact grows exponentially. A simple look at UN reports and one would find this.

Considering all these, is it any wonder there is so much trouble in Palestine?

I urge Israel to abide by the international laws that govern every state, and I hope that ‘analysts’ and ‘experts’ will provide better and fairer analyses, and not obfuscate and complicate what is a relatively simple and straightforward matter.

Authored by Walid Jumblatt Abdullah

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July 16, 2014