SINGAPORE: Singapore civil society group, MARUAH,
has called for stronger civil and social safeguards to prevent
violence against women.
MARUAH made the call on Sunday, as women's
organisations and human rights activists around the world mark
International Day for the Elimination of Violence against
Women.
It supported the call by the Association of Women
for Action and Research (AWARE) and the Singapore Council of
Women's Organisations to have a law to protect women, as well as
men, from sexual harassment.
MARUAH, which is the Singapore arm of the region-wide working group
for an ASEAN human rights mechanism, urged the government to
institute such a law.
It also wants gender studies to be part of the curriculum in
schools - to help children better understand gender relations and
violence against women and children.
"No human being should be subjected to any form of abuse -
physical, sexual, psychological. It destroys their self-esteem and
it takes many years of hard work to rebuild a person," said Braema
Mathi, president of MARUAH.
"As members of this society, we should develop zero tolerance to
any form of violence against women and girls."
- CNA/xq