15 May 2014 Dear Madam Speaker, Ministers of State, Elected Members of Parliament, Non-constituency Members of Parliament, and Nominated Members of Parliament, Alleged vandals should be treated in accordance with UN Convention on the Rights of the Child We, the undersigned, wish to raise our concern regarding the treatment rendered by members of the broadcast and print media and the District Court towards the five teenagers (aged 17) arrested on 10 May 2014 for their alleged involvement in a case of vandalism in Toa Payoh on 7 May 2014. As a signatory of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), Singapore is obligated to fulfil the commitments set in the CRC which are all aimed at achieving its noble purpose of protecting the rights and welfare of all children. According to Article 16 of the CRC, “No child shall be subjected to arbitrary or unlawful interference with his or her privacy, family, or correspondence, nor to unlawful attacks on his or her honour and reputation”. Under Article 40(1), parties to the Convention, “recognize the right of every child alleged as, accused of, or recognized as having infringed the penal law to be treated in a manner consistent with the promotion of the childs sense of dignity and worth, which reinforces the childs respect for the human rights and fundamental freedoms of others and which takes into account the childs age and the desirability of promoting the childs reintegration and the childs assuming a constructive role in society”. Article 40(2)(b)(vii) further states that privacy of the child must be guaranteed and respected at all stages of the proceedings. Although Article 1 of the CRC defines a child as an individual who is not over the age of 18, Singapores Children and Young Persons Act (CYPA) only provides protections for individuals aged 16 and below. Therefore, the actions of the broadcast and print media in revealing the identities of the five accused aged 17, run counter to the spirit and intent of the CRC, particularly Articles 16, 40(1), and 40(2)(vii). In addition, a request made by one of the teenagers to inform his parents about his arrest was denied by the judge at the first mention of his case in court. This denial of assistance by the district judge is a violation of Article 16 of the CRC; however, since the CYPA does not cover individuals over the age of 16, the judge had acted within the boundaries of our laws. We, the undersigned, believe that Singapore’s laws, and especially the CYPA in the area of childrens rights, should be aligned with the provisions of the CRC. This is to ensure that individuals aged 18 and below are duly protected in accordance with international human rights norms. Further, we note that the five accused teenagers have yet to be proven guilty in a court of law. As such, we urge the Attorney General to look into possible violations of the CRC by members of Singapore’s print and broadcast media as well as provide adequate protection for these teenagers, adhering fully to the spirit of the CRC. We also urge the Attorney General and the Singapore Police Force to grant the accused five immediate communications with their families as well as access to immediate and adequate legal representation. Yours Sincerely, Amy Lauschke Adrian Gopal Andrew Loh Ariffin Sha Betty Tan Braema Mathi Bryan Choong Chan Wai Han Chng Nai Rui Chng Suan Tze Chong Kai Xiong Chong Wai Fung Clarence Lenon Dorai Constance Singham Damien Chng Dana Lam Dr. Paul Ananth Tambyah Dr. Vincent Wijeysingha Dr. Wong Wee Nam Eddie Ng Emily Boo Evan Ong Eng Ann Fong Hoe Fang Francis Law Frederique Soh Han Hui Hui Ho Choon Hiong Howard Lee Immae Tham Isrizal Mohamed Isa Jacob George Jacqueline Tan Jaslyn Go Jean Chong Jennifer Teo Jevon Ng Jocelyn Yeo Joe Tan Jolene Tan Jolovan Wham Joshua Chiang Jufri Salim Kirsten Han Koh Eng Thiem, Ronald Kokila Annamalai Kumaran Pillai Kwan Jin-Ee KZ Arifa Law Kah Hock Lenney Leong Leow Yong Fatt [Liao Yangfa] Lim Han Thon Lim Jialiang Lim Kay Siu Low Yit Leng Lujahhan Mohd Islam Lukas Godfrey Lynn Lee Mahaboob Baatsha Mansura Sajahan Martin Ferrao Melissa Tsang Miak Siew Ng E-Jay Ng Joo Hock Nicholas Harriman Noor Effendy Ibrahim Nurul Huda Pak Geok Choo Patrick Ong Rachel Zeng Raymond Chan Robert Yong Roger Yap Roy Ngerng Yi Ling Sarah Sidek Shelley Thio Sidek Mallek Siew Kum Hong Sophie Tan Stephanie Chok Steve Chia Suziana Mohd Sylvia Tan Tan Elice Tan Kin Lian Tan Simin Tan Tee Seng Teo Soh Lung Terry Xu Timothy Soh Vanessa Ho Veronica Denise Goh Vincent Cheng Vincent Law Vivian Wang Wong Chee Meng Wong Souk Yee Woon Tien Wei Xu Zhi Long Yap Ching Wi Yeo Yeu Yong Zeng Ziting And the following organisations: Function 8 MARUAH Restore Singapore Anti-Death Penalty Campaign Think Centre We Believe in Second Chances
Posted on: Thu, 15 May 2014 08:55:02 +0000
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