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[h=1]NORWAY'S PARLIAMENT QUESTIONS SINGAPORE'S LACK OF HUMAN RIGHTS[/h]
Post date:
30 Apr 2015 - 9:02pm
A Norwegian Member of Parliament posed a question about Singapore to its Foreign Ministry:
Norwegian Member of Parliament Hans Olav Syversen (KrF): Singapore is an important trading partner in Asia for Norway. The country also appears as a shining economic example. Nevertheless, the situation for regime critics deteriorated. Bloggers, filmmakers and cartoonists experiencing increasingly reprisals or harsh encounters with the justice system.
On "Reporters Without Border's" "Press Freedom Index" the country has fallen to place 153 of 180.
In what way will the Foreign Minister addressing the human rights situation with the authorities in Singapore?
Norwegian Foreign Minister Børge Brende: Singapore is a modern, mulitetnisk countries while a value terms conservative society, where a number of civil and political rights is not recognized by the authorities. Among other things, there are important restrictions on the freedom of expression and freedom of assembly. Singapore has chosen not to accede to the UN Convention on Civil and Political Rights and other core international human rights instruments.
Singapore has the last fifty years undergone a very positive economic and social development. At about three decades was Singapore one of Asia's most developed economies with one of the world's highest GDP per. capita. The state ensures good health and education. Over 80% of the population lives in housing that is subsidized by the state, and the government introduces more and better welfare rights.
Singapore underwent his first Universal Periodic Review (UPR process) UN Human Rights Council in 2011. Norway encouraged when the moratorium on the death penalty and asked questions about how the terms of freedom of speech and freedom of assembly could be improved. Further asked Norway about Singapore would be willing to raise the age of criminal responsibility and prohibit corporal punishment as sanction. Norway also took up a number of issues Female Committee had raised about Singapore's implementation of CEDAW, and urged Singapore to lift its reservations against some of the Woman's Convention.
Singapore is the subject of new UPR in early 2016 and Norway will take an active part this time also. The death penalty, freedom of expression and gay position is expected to be among the main topics. The country resumed use of the death penalty in 2014 by two executions. Also in this month was consummated a death sentence in Singapore. Foreign Minister Shanmugam has defended the country's use of the death penalty at the UN. Singapore is well acquainted with Norwegian opposition to the death penalty. In recent years we have succeeded in expanding bilateral relations from a successful economic cooperation to a broader partnership that also includes political conditions. It would be natural to follow up the matters raised by Norway in UPR also in political talks with Singapore.
The country's human rights activists are mobilizing ahead of the upcoming UPR review. Norway believes that it is important that civil society be included in the process. Reports from non-governmental bodies to a greater extent than government report focusing on the challenges a country has the human rights field, and is therefore a very important part of the preparations for the UPR hearing. Embassy in Singapore has close contacts with the NGO community in Singapore in that regard.
Websites and blogs have become important venues for expression of opinion in Singapore. Foreign Ministry has welcomed Singaporean bloggers visiting Norway. Embassy in Singapore is in contact with human rights activists in order to form the best possible picture of the political development. This also applies now in the period prior to the UPR review of Singapore. It has recently been arranged meetings with Singaporean opposition politicians and critics of the regime.
(Translated via Google Translate)
https://www.stortinget.no/…/Skriftlige…/Skriftlig-sporsmal/…
Post date:
30 Apr 2015 - 9:02pm
A Norwegian Member of Parliament posed a question about Singapore to its Foreign Ministry:
Norwegian Member of Parliament Hans Olav Syversen (KrF): Singapore is an important trading partner in Asia for Norway. The country also appears as a shining economic example. Nevertheless, the situation for regime critics deteriorated. Bloggers, filmmakers and cartoonists experiencing increasingly reprisals or harsh encounters with the justice system.
On "Reporters Without Border's" "Press Freedom Index" the country has fallen to place 153 of 180.
In what way will the Foreign Minister addressing the human rights situation with the authorities in Singapore?
Norwegian Foreign Minister Børge Brende: Singapore is a modern, mulitetnisk countries while a value terms conservative society, where a number of civil and political rights is not recognized by the authorities. Among other things, there are important restrictions on the freedom of expression and freedom of assembly. Singapore has chosen not to accede to the UN Convention on Civil and Political Rights and other core international human rights instruments.
Singapore has the last fifty years undergone a very positive economic and social development. At about three decades was Singapore one of Asia's most developed economies with one of the world's highest GDP per. capita. The state ensures good health and education. Over 80% of the population lives in housing that is subsidized by the state, and the government introduces more and better welfare rights.
Singapore underwent his first Universal Periodic Review (UPR process) UN Human Rights Council in 2011. Norway encouraged when the moratorium on the death penalty and asked questions about how the terms of freedom of speech and freedom of assembly could be improved. Further asked Norway about Singapore would be willing to raise the age of criminal responsibility and prohibit corporal punishment as sanction. Norway also took up a number of issues Female Committee had raised about Singapore's implementation of CEDAW, and urged Singapore to lift its reservations against some of the Woman's Convention.
Singapore is the subject of new UPR in early 2016 and Norway will take an active part this time also. The death penalty, freedom of expression and gay position is expected to be among the main topics. The country resumed use of the death penalty in 2014 by two executions. Also in this month was consummated a death sentence in Singapore. Foreign Minister Shanmugam has defended the country's use of the death penalty at the UN. Singapore is well acquainted with Norwegian opposition to the death penalty. In recent years we have succeeded in expanding bilateral relations from a successful economic cooperation to a broader partnership that also includes political conditions. It would be natural to follow up the matters raised by Norway in UPR also in political talks with Singapore.
The country's human rights activists are mobilizing ahead of the upcoming UPR review. Norway believes that it is important that civil society be included in the process. Reports from non-governmental bodies to a greater extent than government report focusing on the challenges a country has the human rights field, and is therefore a very important part of the preparations for the UPR hearing. Embassy in Singapore has close contacts with the NGO community in Singapore in that regard.
Websites and blogs have become important venues for expression of opinion in Singapore. Foreign Ministry has welcomed Singaporean bloggers visiting Norway. Embassy in Singapore is in contact with human rights activists in order to form the best possible picture of the political development. This also applies now in the period prior to the UPR review of Singapore. It has recently been arranged meetings with Singaporean opposition politicians and critics of the regime.
(Translated via Google Translate)
https://www.stortinget.no/…/Skriftlige…/Skriftlig-sporsmal/…
