Relevance of Universal Periodic Review in Singapore’s case

In its report to the UN Universal Periodic Review (UPR), Singaporeans for Democracy (SFD), an NGO promoting local and regional democracy and human rights, focused on the city state’s electoral system, which it claims, is the root cause of all human rights abuses. While this is a commendable effort in drawing attention to the shortcomings of the electoral system and appears to coincide with upcoming general elections, its appraisals and recommendations may be of little relevance to the review due to the tenuous and indirect links between free and fair elections and human rights violations. It remains at best, speculative, that open and independent elections would naturally create conducive factors leading to human rights promotion. Moreover, the UPR is tasked to deal with specific human rights violations. As such, NGOs should have chosen to focus on these issues such as the death penalty. While Article 21 of the Universal Declaration of the Human Rights (UDHR) affirms the right of all peoples to representative government, this is not explicitly suggested by the SFD report. This article, divided into two parts, briefly describe the history, procedures, strengths and shortcomings of the UPR, before situating within the Singapore context.

Israeli attack on Gaza Flotilla condemned by UN Mission

A UN mission, established under the mandate of the Human Rights Council to look into the Israeli attack on the Gaza Flotilla earlier this year, has released a report condemning the former for violating various international human rights and humanitarian law during the interception and detention of passengers in Israel.

Alice Walker on Rwanda, East Congo and Palestine

Democracy Now! has interviewed Alice Walker, a Pulitzer Prize winning, poet, author and activist on her latest book, ‘Overcoming Speechlessness’ tracing the human rights atrocities inflicted on women and children from Rwanda to East Congo and Palestine.

Death penalty in Singapore (2009)

According to the Amnesty International 2009 Death Penalty report, the Singapore government has executed one person in the last year. At least six have also been sentenced to death in 2009.

Sydney activists urge action on Honduras

‘Sydney Says no to Honduras’, a webpage maintained by two Sydney activists concerned about the situation in Honduras, has documented some possible actions that individuals can do. Their suggestions include writing letters to politicians and replying to mainstream media on reports from Honduras.