CEDAW at 30

30th Anniversary of the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women
The landmark convention on gender discrimination turns 30. UN conventions are useful as tools to benchmark countries, and also to put human rights violations under international spotlight.

World Consumer Rights Day 2010

Consumers International

The theme for World Consumer Rights Day (WCRD) 2010 is ‘Our money, our rights’ and will highlight consumer issues in relation to financial services.

Tutorial centre's PSLE ad misleads anxious parents

channelnewsasia.com
Sad to see a business that is so desperate that it tried to prey on anxious parents keen to give their children that "extra" edge. Great that this is now public.

Asean and human rights: closing the implementation gap

The Nation
Homayoun Alizadeh, the OHCHR rep in Southeast Asia, makes a quite convincing argument for regional systems to advance (instead of retard) human rights.

Twisted rhetoric from Young PAP

Young PAP - To The Devotees of Western Democracy and Human Rights.
sgwatchdog saw this article highlighted in The Online Citizen. It is tiring to see yet another attempt to create a myth that human rights is a solely Western (or American) idea. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights was drafted by a group of people, including reps from China and Lebanon. Plenty of non-Western countries voted in favour of the UDHR during its adoption. Also, the US is one of the few prominent countries that has not ratified the key UN human rights conventions. So it is misleading to try to portray human rights advocates as pro-American or pro-West. The usage of the word "devotees" is also sad, as the author is trying to imply that human rights activists are trying to "convert" others to practice the "religion" of human rights. Rights and beliefs are not the same.

Public consultation on proposed changes to regulations on estate agents

Ministry of National Development
The public consultation is now on. Do contribute your feedback to ask for more consumer protection.

U.N. Isn't Addressing Fraud in Afghan Election - washingtonpost.com

washingtonpost.com
When will Singapore get a whistle-blower like the ex-deputy special representative of the United Nations in Afghanistan?

'Buyer beware' works well with papaya

The New Paper
Another great article from Larry Haverkamp (a.k.a. Doctor Money). Larry talks about one of his pet topics; hidden charges in financial products.

Convention on the Rights of the Child turns 20

Celebration of the 20th Anniversary of the Adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC)
One of the UN's most ratified conventions turns 20 this year. A blurb from the website below.

"The celebration will focus on the theme “Dignity, Development and Dialogue,” and will provide an important opportunity to bring together States parties, United Nations bodies and other intergovernmental organizations, national human rights institutions, international and national non-governmental organizations, children’s and youth groups, academics and all others interested in the CRC."

Embrace diversity, End discrimination

Human Rights Day 2009
This year's theme for Human Rights Day (10th December) is out. Do check out the UN link above.