J.B.Jeyaretnam conferred with Human Rights Defenders Award

Posted by Sinapan Samydorai under Public Forums on 7 December 2003

If there were more human rights defenders, the human rights of people will become more secure. Today, 6th December 2003, Think Centre presented the Human Rights Defenders Award to J.B.Jeyaretnam.

Today, 6th December 2003, Think Centre presented the Human Rights Defenders Award to J.B.Jeyaretnam.

Think Centre invited Mr. J.B. Jeyaretnam to be a honorary Think Centre Member and be Think Centre's Ambassador for Human Rights in Singapore.

Jeyaretnam accepted the Award, the honorary Think Centre Membership and to be Think Centre's Ambassador for Human Rights in Singapore.

More then the 50 people filled to capaciy the Oxford Hotel ballroom to participate in the event and express solidarity for human right defenders around the world.

Think centre organized the Human Rights Forum and Human Rights Defenders Award to celebrate the December 10, International Human Rights Day.

J.B. Jeyaretnam received messages of congratulation, on being conferred Think Centre's Human Rights Defenders Award, from among others Amnesty International, International Service for Human rights and Asian Forum for human Rights and Development.

Think Centre's annual Human Rights Day Forum featured speakers Sinapan Samydorai, Dr.Tan Chong Kee, James Gomez, and the panel was chaired by Dr.Russel Heng. Plenary speakers Sinapan Samydorai is the President of Think Centre, Dr.Tan Chong Kee is Chairman Board Of Directors of The Necessary Stage, and James Gomez is 2nd Deputy Secretary-General of Workers' Party.

The Human Rights Defenders Award event was chaired by Mr.James Gomez. Sinapan Samydorai, President of the Think Centre, spoke on the Award. He welcomed J.B.Jeyaretnam as honorary Think Centre member and to serve as Think Centre's Ambassador for Human Rights. Then he presented the Award to J.B.Jeyaretnam.

J.B.Jeyaretnam's acceptance speech will be transcripted by Think Centre soon for the webpage.

Human Rights Defenders Award: Honour the Human Rights Defenders

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights is a common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations, to the end that every individual and every organ of society, keeping this Declaration constantly in mind, shall strive by teaching and education to promote respect for these rights and freedoms and by progressive measures, national and international, to secure their universal and effective recognition and observance, both among the peoples of Member States themselves and among the peoples of territories under their jurisdiction. [Introductory paragraph of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights]

Human rights defenders play an important role in the promotion and protection of universally recognized human rights. Often they become targets of human rights violations because of their human rights activities. Promoting human rights and defending victims of violations has become a very risky commitment in many countries. For example, Human rights defenders around the world encounter difficulties to assemble; recognition of their associations; denial of freedom of movement; termination from their employment, receive external funding; harassment from State authorities; arbitrary detention and torture; extra-judicial killings; "disappearances"; defamation charges, and become victims of campaigns in government controlled media.

Human rights defenders like Nelson Mandela of South Africa, Vaclav Havel of the Czech Republic and Kim Dae jung of South Korea were fearless and tireless leaders who struggle for human rights. The three leaders went from prison to become president of their countries. But in ASEAN, Aung San Suu Kyi of Burma is still struggling against repression in her country.In Singapore, can you imagine Chia Thye Poh becoming a respected political leader?

There are many human rights defenders of whom we never hear or know like trade union leaders, human rights educators, etc. They are in the frontline of human rights defense - women and men who dare to raise their voice in defense of rights, and some pay the price with their life. But many others suffer from subtle manipulation from governments. The governments make life very difficult for these man and women who dare to raise their voice in defense of human rights. Lets not forget the 1987 ISA arrests in Singapore and Mr. J.B. Jeyaretnam - who continues to pay a heavy price! "When the rights of human rights defenders are violated, all our rights are put in jeopardy and all of us are made less safe." - Kofi Annan, UN Secretary General September 14, 1998 NGO/DPI Conference

If there were more human rights defenders, the human rights of people will become more secure. Think Centre hopes to interest residents to become human rights defenders.

Both Civil Society Organizations and governments recognize the importance of the United Nations Human Rights Defenders Declaration.

The Declaration reinforces core rights already provided in international agreements, including:

  • The right to advocate human rights ideas freely and openly and to communicate them to others.

  • The right to participate in non-violent activities aimed at promoting observance of human rights.

  • The right to use the law and state institutions in the defense of human rights, and to appeal to them when the victims cannot do so for themselves.

  • The right to form, join or affiliate with national or international human rights organizations.

  • The right to receive and publish information at home and abroad.

  • The right to obtain and utilize the resources necessary for human rights defense.

  • The right to communicate with national and international nongovernmental organizations on human rights issues and to have access to intergovernmental organizations.

  • The right to defend human rights in a manner consistent with international standards, without being constrained by national laws and regulations that fall short of international standards.

  • The right to defend the rights of others as well as one's own.

    Sources and Relevant Links:

    Think Centre J.B.Jeyaretnam: Defender of Human Rights

    MalaysiaKini S'pore's Jeyaretnam honoured with first human rights award

    Think Centre Celebrating Human Right's Day on December 6th

    Think Centre Celebrating Human Right's Day

    Think Centre Declaration on Human Rights Defenders

    Think centre The Universal Declaration of Human Rights

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