On the 9th Aug 2009, our country celebrated her 44th birthday. This year, we are also celebrating our country’s 50 years of self-governance. As a young country, we have come very far and fast, advancing from a third world with no natural resources, scarce land and high unemployment to a remarkable first world country.
We have achieved racial and civil stability, surmounting the early days of riots ranging from the 1950 Maria Hertogh Riots, the 1964 Racial Riots, to the 1955 Hock Lee bus riots. Economically, our country enjoys a high GDP and is ranked the 5th world-wide by the IMF in 2008. Socially, our government encourages work-life balance.
Singapore’s population has also changed from the early years consisting of mainly lowly educated migrants, to a mainly highly educated citizens and residents. This highly educated population has been infused with different culture, beliefs and philosophies. With this demography change, the method of governance is also changing. However, change is always slow, and shrew gentle influence may be required to affect existing government policies, which were adopted at a time when things were different.
A number of recent changes can be seen with the changes in policies. For example, in 2000, the Speakers’ corner was established in Hong Lim Park, in 2003, the intake quota for female medical students was abolish, while in 2004, the grant of citizenship by descent has been made constitutionally gender neutral.
Despite the commonly perceived view that the people’s opinion will not be heard, changes are happening, albeit slowly. Now, for those who are interested to contribute in their own little ways, there is a chance. Singapore, being part of ASEAN, is involved in the ASEAN Charter, which is forming “The ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on ASEAN Human Rights” – an ASEAN human rights body during the ASEAN summit in Thailand this Oct. A consultation workshop, is to be held this 22 Aug 2009 Sat, to contribute to the reflection on the issues of engaging appropriately and effectively with this new human rights body.
The details of this consultation workshop is as follows. Click here for registration.
Event: Consultation Workshop on “Engaging the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) – The People’s Views”
Date: 22 Aug 2009, Sat
Time: 8:30am to 3:45pm
Venue: Novotel Hotel, Clarke Quay
Organiser: MARUAH (Singapore Working Group for an ASEAN Human Rights Mechanism)
Sponsoring Partner: Konrad Adenauer Stiftung
Partners:
Institute of Southeast Asian Studies
ASEAN Studies Centre