Temasek Review
The United Nations (UN) has released its report in the recently
concluded Universal Periodic Review of Singapore that was held in
May 2011. The exercise is part of the UN’s on-going review of the
state of politics among its member states.
Among some of the calls made to the PAP Government included the
lifting on the ban of peaceful public assemblies, the cessation of
the use of defamation laws to stifle free speech, and the abolition
of laws that curtail freedom of association. Several countries
including Canada, the Czech Republic, Switzerland, and the United
Kingdom made the proposals.
Calls were also made for the Singapore Government to review its
laws on mandatory death penalty.
Below are excerpts of the report making recommendations for civil
liberties to be respected in Singapore:
99. The following recommendations did not enjoy the support of
Singapore as Singapore considers that they are based on incorrect
assumptions or premises:
99.1. Review the de facto ban on peaceful public demonstrations,
the use of anti-defamation laws; and the registration process for
civil society and associations, to ensure that such laws, as
adopted and enforced, are consistent with international human
rights guarantees of the rights to freedom of expression, freedom
of peaceful assembly, freedom of association (Canada);
99.2. Abolish the defamation law and ensure protection and
promotion of the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful
assembly and association through legislative reform and policy
changes (Czech Republic);
99.3. Abolish the penal law on defamation and ensure, through
legislative reform and political change, that freedom of
expression, as well as freedom of association and peaceful assembly
are guaranteed to all inhabitants, citizens or not, of the country
(Switzerland);
99.4. Implement the 18 recommendations made by the International
Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute in its 2008 report
“Prosperity Versus Individual Rights” (United Kingdom);
99.5. Prohibit corporal punishment and put in place an educational
system respectful of the physical and psychological integrity of
minors (Switzerland);
99.6. Fully incorporate the principles and provisions of CRC into
the domestic legal system, especially those regarding corporal
punishment (Poland);
Click here to
read the full report. Then go to ‘Outcome of the Review’ and click
on Report of the Working Group ‘E’.
