Proham chief Simon Sipaun calls on the government to ratify United Nations Convention on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.
PETALING JAYA: Malaysia’s institutionalised racial discrimination is bleeding the nation of talent, said human rights group Persatuan Promosi Hak Asasi Manusia (Proham) chairman Simon Sipaun.
In view of this, the former Suhakam vice-chairman said it was important for the government to ratify the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.
“If Malaysia ratifies the convention, it would show the world that we do not condone racial discrimination.
“What we have in this country is institutionalised discrimination and it has triggered things like the brain drain because meritocracy isn’t practiced,” he said at Proham’s first anniversary bash here yesterday evening.
Currently, 175 countries were parties to the UN convention. Only 16 countries had not signed or ratified the convention. Malaysia was one of them alongside Angola, North Korea, Myanmar and Singapore.
Launched exactly a year ago on March 21, Proham celebrated its first birthday with several youths from around the world calling for an end to racism.
The International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination is observed annually on this day, in memory of the 1960 massacre when police opened fire and killed 69 people at a peaceful demonstration in Sharpeville, South Africa, against the apartheid pass laws.
Proclaiming the day in 1966, the United Nations General Assembly called on the international community to redouble its efforts to eliminate all forms of racial discrimination.
The Proham event saw the participation of 20 youths representing countries such as India, Bangladesh, Kenya, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Cyprus and also Malaysia.
Songs, poems, statements and declarations were used to voice their stand against racial discrimination.
Sipaun said the end to racial discrimination was a mission that youths should take up, adding that while racism was still very much alive in many countries, hope remained in the collapse of the Nazi and Apartheid rules.
‘Look at the company we keep’
Speaking at the same event, Suhakam vice-chairperson Prof Dr Khaw Lake Tee opined that if anything, Malaysia should lead the much needed awareness for the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination but instead there had been hardly a mention of it.
“There is a saying which goes that we reflect the company we keep. And if you take a look at the other countries that have not ratified the convention, you will realise that it’s nothing to be proud about,” she added.
Committee member Denison Jayasooria added that the presence of young people might do well in bringing about the said awareness with their savvy use of various social media avenues.
“The youth present at this gathering today will use Facebook, Twitter and YouTube to share their views on the importance of ending racial discrimination.
“We have these young people who have made a commitment to the cause and their dedication to it should
inspire the rest of us to do all we can do to ensure equality for all,” he asserted.
Valerie Siganga (photo), a 19-year-old Kenyan, perhaps summed up all the hopes and aspirations for an end to racial discrimination when she said: “I am against racism because I believe in open opportunities of love, sharing, education, resources and community for all.”
“I wish that political leaders around the world would realise that the colour of my skin, my religious background or my language do not mean I understand less.
“My background, my opportunities and my ethnic orientation do not prevent me from having feelings. I am like all people, I can give of myself and of my heart, and I can share love with everyone.
“Your race will not stop me from giving you a hug when you are sad, or for praying for your country when you are at war, or for celebrating with you in your times of joy. Let us learn that it really is okay for us to accept one another for who we are.”
PETALING JAYA: Malaysia’s institutionalised racial discrimination is bleeding the nation of talent, said human rights group Persatuan Promosi Hak Asasi Manusia (Proham) chairman Simon Sipaun.In view of this, the former Suhakam vice-chairman said it was important for the government to ratify the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.
“If Malaysia ratifies the convention, it would show the world that we do not condone racial discrimination.
“What we have in this country is institutionalised discrimination and it has triggered things like the brain drain because meritocracy isn’t practiced,” he said at Proham’s first anniversary bash here yesterday evening.
Currently, 175 countries were parties to the UN convention. Only 16 countries had not signed or ratified the convention. Malaysia was one of them alongside Angola, North Korea, Myanmar and Singapore.
Launched exactly a year ago on March 21, Proham celebrated its first birthday with several youths from around the world calling for an end to racism.
The International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination is observed annually on this day, in memory of the 1960 massacre when police opened fire and killed 69 people at a peaceful demonstration in Sharpeville, South Africa, against the apartheid pass laws.
Proclaiming the day in 1966, the United Nations General Assembly called on the international community to redouble its efforts to eliminate all forms of racial discrimination.
The Proham event saw the participation of 20 youths representing countries such as India, Bangladesh, Kenya, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Cyprus and also Malaysia.
Songs, poems, statements and declarations were used to voice their stand against racial discrimination.
Sipaun said the end to racial discrimination was a mission that youths should take up, adding that while racism was still very much alive in many countries, hope remained in the collapse of the Nazi and Apartheid rules.
‘Look at the company we keep’
Speaking at the same event, Suhakam vice-chairperson Prof Dr Khaw Lake Tee opined that if anything, Malaysia should lead the much needed awareness for the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination but instead there had been hardly a mention of it.
“There is a saying which goes that we reflect the company we keep. And if you take a look at the other countries that have not ratified the convention, you will realise that it’s nothing to be proud about,” she added.
Committee member Denison Jayasooria added that the presence of young people might do well in bringing about the said awareness with their savvy use of various social media avenues.
“The youth present at this gathering today will use Facebook, Twitter and YouTube to share their views on the importance of ending racial discrimination.
“We have these young people who have made a commitment to the cause and their dedication to it should
inspire the rest of us to do all we can do to ensure equality for all,” he asserted.Valerie Siganga (photo), a 19-year-old Kenyan, perhaps summed up all the hopes and aspirations for an end to racial discrimination when she said: “I am against racism because I believe in open opportunities of love, sharing, education, resources and community for all.”
“I wish that political leaders around the world would realise that the colour of my skin, my religious background or my language do not mean I understand less.
“My background, my opportunities and my ethnic orientation do not prevent me from having feelings. I am like all people, I can give of myself and of my heart, and I can share love with everyone.
“Your race will not stop me from giving you a hug when you are sad, or for praying for your country when you are at war, or for celebrating with you in your times of joy. Let us learn that it really is okay for us to accept one another for who we are.”
No comments:
Post a Comment