The United Nations have dedicated this year's theme to upholding the ideal of “Equality: Reducing inequalities and advancing human rights”... The past two years since the pandemic broke out have exacerbated existing inequalities; whatever is left of our fundamental freedoms were also severely threatened... In our 2015 commentary, Think Centre highlighted the extensive and lingering presence of repressive draconian laws... it would have been unimaginable to think the situation could worsen.... the introduction of POFMA and FICA... only reflect the adversarial and suspicious attitudes and lack of faith in the citizenry by the incumbent political leaders...
Keep Reading →Our island state was founded more than 50 years ago on the basis of “one united people, regardless of race, language or religion, to build a democratic society, based on justice and equality, so as to achieve happiness, prosperity and progress for our nation”. .. Half a century later, these very ideals have been eroded to the point where the livelihood of citizens are threatened ... wealth inequality has not improved in the last 5 years and income growth has slowed across the board except for the wealthiest. No matter how much assistance the government gives, there will always remain a segment of the population that cannot catch up. This is when social expenditure of the government must increase. .. The current exploitative nature of work is unsustainable where its workers clocked 2,371.2 hours in 2016, the longest in the world. .. It is ironic that the hardworking and old Singaporean workers cannot afford to retire even after a lifetime contributing to the nation’s economy. .. what then is the social contract of Singaporeans with regard to its employers and government?
Keep Reading →Adrian, like many civil society activists in Singapore, is a volunteer. He helps out with Think Centre, a long time member of FORUM-ASIA, which is gazetted by the Singapore Government as a political organisation. "...for lasting, long term effect to take place, I realised personal sharing in a safe space and one to one working out of arguments and disentangling of misconceptions to be most satisfying and effective. This has been facilitated a lot by social media and I am trying to reach out just to friends and relatives that I know personally. Only when one is willing to expose one’s vulnerability will the other party do the same."
Keep Reading →Think Centre invites ASEAN, Singapore, and all concern civil society stakeholders, to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the International Criminal Court.
Keep Reading →Jolovan Wham delivers the acceptance and thank you speech at Think Centre's Human Rights Defender's Award Ceremony. Think Centre honoured the social worker for migrant rights with the human rights defender award.
Keep Reading →Calling the practice of caning and death penalty as inhuman, in its latest reports, Think Centre also recommended to S'Pore government to review and repeal outdated legislations and clauses contained within legislations that curtail fundamental freedoms.
Keep Reading →Vui Kong was only 19 when arrested in mid-2007 under the Misuse of Drugs Act. He was sentenced to death in December 2009. Critics question the rationale of forging ahead with mandatory death penalty for drug traffickers in Singapore.
Keep Reading →The movement is that of urban young, particularly holders of diplomas with no job, supported by segments of the educated middle classes, democrats.
Keep Reading →The death penalty is counter to the rule of law and respect for the human rights due in a democratic society. Slavery, the mutilation of prisoners and, increasingly, torture have been banished from judicial systems. The death penalty too has had its day.
Keep Reading →Yong Vui Kong from Sandakan, Sabah, is a typical Chinese Malaysian dropout who did not make it to secondary school. His "bosses" ask him to deliver a gift to a Singapore customer. He was just past 18 years when caught with 47g of heroin by Singapore officers.
Keep Reading →There may be no institutionalised racial discrimination in Singapore, several policies have further marginalized of certain ethnic groups. This is a situation that must be acknowledged and acted. The task of enhancing the enjoyment of human rights in the Singaporean society must be borne by all - the Government, citizens, residents and civil society organisations.
Keep Reading →In marking the 2nd World Day of Social Justice (on 20 February), the ITUC is calling for an end to the prevailing neo-liberal model of economic globalization.
Keep Reading →Grassroots organisations (with nearly 30,000 community workers) which interact and organise activities in the HDB estates are actually part of the ruling PAP. They are publicly-funded and overseen by the People's Association, a government statutory board under the Ministry of Community Development,the community workers are supposed to be non-partisans.
Keep Reading →The government is leery of generous handouts, fearing they might undercut the work ethic while burdening taxpayers. But the thinness of the safety net also reflects a widespread article of faith, recited and reinforced over the years.
Keep Reading →Extending beyond domestic issues, we have worked with NGOs from the region to discuss and facilitate cooperation within ASEAN.
Keep Reading →10 October 2008, on World Day Against the Death Penalty, Think Centre joins Amnesty International in the call to establish a moratorium on the death penalty immediately. Its time for Singapore to set a moratorium on executions!
Keep Reading →Think Centre had the honour of working with and for JBJ in 2001. He was the champion spokesperson for those that did not have a voice in parliament for the weak, the downtrodden and the poor!In an age where a million dollars are demanded to serve the nation, JBJ parted with a million dollars to serve his people.
Keep Reading →Who is responsible for the senseless deaths of the five young Singapore men. Did the sports authorities in Singapore closed one eye to flagrant disregard for basic water sport safety - allowing the sportmen to join dragon boat races without life jackets?
Keep Reading →The Singapore Working Group is progressing from Interim to Pro-tem Working Group and calls itself the Singapore Working Group for ASEAN.
Keep Reading →3rd ASEAN Civil Society Conference(ACSC3)is being organized by the SAPA Working Group on ASEAN, 1-3 November 2007, in Singapore.
Keep Reading →