PELU rejects TWC2 application for an outdoor event to mark International Day Against Violence Against Women. The answer of the police is the same as their rejection of Think Centre's application for International Childrens' Day- "law and order problem." The PELU suggest using Speakers Corner.
It seems the PAP government does have OB markers to prevent human rights education to the public. The OB markers do not allow easy access to the public. The residents living in public housing estates will not have easy access to information on their rights. PELU tolerate events at Speakers' Corner where few come and at indoor event that limits the number.
Sinapan Samydorai
Think Centre
22 November 2003, Straits Times Group can't get nod for anti-violence events
Three applications to stage an outdoor event to mark International Day Against Violence Against Women turned down by the police
By Theresa Tan
THE organisers of a campaign to stop violence against women planned a walk from the Outdoor Theatre at the Esplanade to Boat Quay on Tuesday.
But the police said no, there could be 'law and order' problems.
The group then decided to stage a performance at the Esplanade's Outdoor Theatre, which would include a short talk on avoiding violence and a performance by the Singapore Children's Society.
But the police said no again, speeches were not allowed outdoors, except at the Speakers' Corner.
So the organisers changed the programme to a 'song and dance' performance. But the police said no a third time.
Now, the organisers of the White Ribbon Campaign have no formal event to launch the campaign next week.
The TWC2, a group of social activists seeking to improve the condition of foreign maids here, is instead urging all Singaporeans to wear a white ribbon that day as a personal pledge 'never to commit, condone or keep silent about violence against women'.
The White Ribbon Campaign is an international effort to end violence against women and Nov 25 is designated as International Day Against Violence Against Women by the United Nations.
At 4.30pm on Tuesday, Singaporeans are requested to observe a minute's silence to reflect on violence and its aftermath.
Campaign organiser Dana Lam told The Straits Times the group had appealed to the police, explaining how volunteers would be in place along the route of the walk to control the crowd, but the answer was still negative. Then Plan B was also turned down.
'They asked us to book a school hall or ballroom. But we didn't want a confined indoor space, as we wanted to bring the anti-violence message out in the open,' said Madam Lam.
Next the plan to conduct a song and dance show was shot down, she said.
'The last thing I expected was not to get a public entertainment licence. We were prepared to make changes to the programme to accommodate whatever the police wanted us to do, except going indoors,' said Madam Lam.
'And the Esplanade is a place for entertainment, yet they don't allow us to stage the programme.'
The police told The Straits Times it had assessed TWC2's applications and rejected them because of law and order considerations.
So all that TWC2 volunteers will be doing next Tuesday is distributing white ribbons at public places all over Singapore.
Ironically, some 60,000 ribbons were made by male prisoners at the Jalan Awan Prison who volunteered to do so.
Sources and Relevant Links:
Straits Times Group can't get nod for anti-violence events ST 22 Nov 2003
Think Centre: Children's Day Installation art application rejected again
UNIFEM: Violence against women must be given highest priority 21 November 2003 Efforts to root out violence against women have run into stiffening resistance in many instances and the issue must now be given the highest priority on the global agenda, the United Nations Fund for Women (UNIFEM) said today.
The China Post
Anti-violence events banned in Singapore
24 Nov 2003
Singapore law requires a police permit for any public gathering of five or more people. The government says its strict laws are needed to maintain social order — a big selling point for foreign investors, who are considered crucial to this wealthy but resource-poor city-state.
United Nations: Universal Declaration of Human Rights The basic human rights to which all people are entitled are contained in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
UN INSTRAW: INSTRAW-GAINS
Stopvaw: Stop Violence Against Women
VAWO Office on Violence Against Women
Men Stop Violence: Men Stop Violence Against Women
