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SINGAPORE: ASEAN is still undecided on whether it will have a Human Rights Commission under the ASEAN Charter that is being drawn up.
But Foreign Minister George Yeo said there is a clear consensus within ASEAN that the Charter would contain a strong affirmation of the respect for human rights as one of the basic principles of ASEAN.
He was responding to a question raised by Nominated Member of Parliament Professor Thio Li-ann in Parliament on Monday.
Professor Thio had also asked if Singapore had concerns about the human rights practices of ASEAN member countries, and whether this was an issue Singapore was willing to raise with these neighbours.
Mr Yeo said Singapore should not be telling her neighbours what to do.
He explained: "Why should they accept what we tell them? The best that we can do is to achieve high standards in Singapore, and then set an example which others would naturally want to study. And if we lead, let's lead by example."
Mr Yeo explained that locally, there is a growing consensus on the need to protect and promote human rights, especially as the country steps up its nation-building efforts.
However, differing histories, cultures and heritages would make a standard human rights protocol untenable for all ASEAN member nations, cautioned Mr Yeo.
And any regional mechanism for human rights has to take this diversity into account.
- CNA/so
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