Singapore CSOs form National Working Group and designates chairperson

In November 2008, Mr. Marzuki Darusman, Co-Chairperson of the Working Group for an ASEAN Human Rights Mechanism (the Working Group), together with the chairpersons of the National Working Groups (NWGs) formally recognized the Singapore Working Group for an ASEAN Human Rights Mechanism (SWG).

From being an interim organization acting as an intermediary in facilitating the activities of the Working Group, the Singapore Working Group finally became a full-fledged NWG. With this recognition, their goal “to inform and facilitate, from a Singaporean perspective, the establishment of an ASEAN human rights body” will continually be enhanced and reinforced. More than this, the Working Group also looks forward to the active and continuing participation of the Singapore Working Group in regional activities and programs.

With the recognition of the SWG, the members designated Ms. Braema Mathiaparanam as SWG chairperson. Ms. Mathiaparanam has been active in civil society work for the last 20 years and is a leader in advocating for women’s rights, migrant workers’ rights and the ASEAN human rights body. Prior to her involvement in the Working Group, she was the Gender Studies Program Coordinator at the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies in Singapore. She is also teacher, journalist and researcher, and a consultant at the Lien Center for Social Innovation in Singapore and UNIFEM-Bangkok.

“I am very much honored to be part of the process of building an ASEAN human rights body,” said Ms. Mathiaparanam, “I have many experiences with the people at the Working Group and I’m learning a lot from them.”