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This
was the outcome of the second meeting of the human
rights study group on 9th June 2000, were twenty
individuals discussed the various strategies of
setting up a human rights action group. An action
plan to start a human rights education programme
and to launch a rights awareness magazine were
two ideas mooted and supported for action by the
group.
One
of the positive developments after the Asian financial
crisis has been a groundswell of engaging action
orientated human rights programs in the Southeast
Asian regions. This has been a different approach
than the normally reactionary cultural relativists
who 'deconstruct' human rights as a Western hegemonic
project and offer no viable alternative or solutions.
The argument of 'good government' or 'good men'
is no longer an acceptable logic in the securing
of rights in this region.
Singapore
which has been a vocal critic of human rights
and has made very strong intellectual arguments
against it now finds itself in the wilderness
with regard to this issue. Excepting for Burma,
Brunei, Vietnam and of course Singapore all other
ASEAN countries have a National Human Rights Commission.
Therefore, it is imperative that Singapore prepares
itself for a process of instituting various groups
to organise a mechanism for citizens to go to
if they find that anyone or any authority has
infringed their rights.
The
meeting, second in a series, facilitated by the
Think Centre sort to finding ways to set up a
human rights commission in Singapore. Following
a planned agenda the three hour meeting discussed
some pertinent points to human rights and the
sort of 'human rights' they wanted to see developed
in this country. It also called for collective
action among civil society groups, the government,
the political parties and other sectors of societies.
A
strategy of creating human rights awareness among
the masses and the youth was also a paramount
objective of the people who attended the meeting.
Other topics that were debated were the need to
engage the government organizations and also the
extent of collaboration of external NGOs. Other
objectives included using the ASEAN Human Rights
Mechanism as a useful platform. Ideas of setting
up a website and 'networking' were also points
that were raised and discussed.
Even
though there was an all round eagerness to expedite
the set up of a civil society human rights committee,
the group also acknowledged that most lacked professional
education in human rights matters. Therefore,
it was agreed that before embarking on issues
and receiving complaints, there must a group that
undergoes the proper training.The Think Center
together with other NGOs was willing to facilitate
human rights workshops. Even government officials
are welcome. This was seen as the foundation of
bringing about the necessary skills needed to
setup human rights in the country.
Another
human rights initiative, discussed by the group,
which is part of human rights education, is to
start a magazine. This proposal was well received
and the group planned immediately to discuss the
merits of putting up a magazine. All agreed that
it would be an excellent way of publicising the
initiative and also an avenue to reach to other
like-minded individuals or groups.
However,
it was not decided whether the magazine should
be a one off venture or a quarterly publication.
Yet most of the people were upbeat about the idea
and some even offered their services for the publication.
The
meeting went smoothly and what added colour to
it was the variety of arguments that was presented.
Even though there were disagreements about certain
points, the nature of the meeting itself was done
with good spirit and with the intent of bringing
about human rights consciousness among fellow
SINGAPOREANS. Civil society is without a doubt
doing its part to sell the idea of human rights
- buy it before the sale ends.
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