Singaporeans for Democracy
Encyclopedia
Singaporeans for Democracy (SfD) is a Singapore
based Human Rights
and political Non-governmental organization
formed in 2010 by activist-academic Dr James Gomez
and several seasoned socio-political activists. SFD’s primary objective is the advocacy of political and social reform in Singapore, as well as fostering a multi-partisan civil and political platform to promote democracy
within Singapore and abroad.
. During another public forum in January 2010, the organisation revealed its pro-tem committee and released more updates on the organisation's registration which had been delayed by Singapore's Registry of Societies since April 2009.
Singaporeans for Democracy was officially gazetted as a political association by the Registry of Societies (Singapore) in February 2010.
Singaporeans for Democracy has also been involved in civil and political rights campaigns in Singapore. Some of the key campaigns that are synonymous with SfD are:
Singaporeans for Democracy is organizing Singapore's first Freedom Film Festival in November 2010.
, currently the Deputy Associate Dean (International) and Head of Public Relations, School of Humanities, Communications, Social Science, Faculty of Arts, Monash University
and a former Workers’ Party member.
Other Key activists that are and/or have been associated with Singaporeans for Democracy include:-
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
based Human Rights
Human rights
Human rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
and political Non-governmental organization
Non-governmental organization
A non-governmental organization is a legally constituted organization created by natural or legal persons that operates independently from any government. The term originated from the United Nations , and is normally used to refer to organizations that do not form part of the government and are...
formed in 2010 by activist-academic Dr James Gomez
James Gomez
Dr. James Gomez is an academic from Singapore and he manages an online consultancy – The GOMEZ Centre. A prominent public intellectual in the country, he is currently the Executive Director of Singaporeans for Democracy and a member of the Singapore Democratic Party .-Biography:Gomez was born in...
and several seasoned socio-political activists. SFD’s primary objective is the advocacy of political and social reform in Singapore, as well as fostering a multi-partisan civil and political platform to promote democracy
Democracy
Democracy is generally defined as a form of government in which all adult citizens have an equal say in the decisions that affect their lives. Ideally, this includes equal participation in the proposal, development and passage of legislation into law...
within Singapore and abroad.
History
Singaporeans for Democracy was mooted by several Singapore activists who sought to bring their own networks and resources to a broader NGO platform for democracy advocacy and activism in early 2009. The process of registering the organisation was then revealed during a public gathering in January 2010 by activist and academic James GomezJames Gomez
Dr. James Gomez is an academic from Singapore and he manages an online consultancy – The GOMEZ Centre. A prominent public intellectual in the country, he is currently the Executive Director of Singaporeans for Democracy and a member of the Singapore Democratic Party .-Biography:Gomez was born in...
. During another public forum in January 2010, the organisation revealed its pro-tem committee and released more updates on the organisation's registration which had been delayed by Singapore's Registry of Societies since April 2009.
Singaporeans for Democracy was officially gazetted as a political association by the Registry of Societies (Singapore) in February 2010.
Work
SfD maintains its advocacy of a multi-partisan approach to work with NGO and political parties that share a similar ideal to further democracy. Although SFD is a Singapore based organisation, its leadership has stressed on the importance of developing links and maintaining solidarity with foreign NGOs and organisations at the regional and global level.Singaporeans for Democracy has also been involved in civil and political rights campaigns in Singapore. Some of the key campaigns that are synonymous with SfD are:
- Election Reform in Singapore
- Freedom of Expression, Assembly and Association.
- Removing of the Race Column in Singapore NRICs
Singaporeans for Democracy is organizing Singapore's first Freedom Film Festival in November 2010.
Organization
SFD’s present Executive Director is Dr James GomezJames Gomez
Dr. James Gomez is an academic from Singapore and he manages an online consultancy – The GOMEZ Centre. A prominent public intellectual in the country, he is currently the Executive Director of Singaporeans for Democracy and a member of the Singapore Democratic Party .-Biography:Gomez was born in...
, currently the Deputy Associate Dean (International) and Head of Public Relations, School of Humanities, Communications, Social Science, Faculty of Arts, Monash University
Monash University
Monash University is a public university based in Melbourne, Victoria. It was founded in 1958 and is the second oldest university in the state. Monash is a member of Australia's Group of Eight and the ASAIHL....
and a former Workers’ Party member.
Other Key activists that are and/or have been associated with Singaporeans for Democracy include:-
- Martyn SeeMartyn SeeMartyn See is a Singaporean filmmaker and the current Executive Secretary of Singaporeans for Democracy.-Life and Career:Martyn See has a lengthy career of being a feature editor for films, some of which include Mee Pok Man That One No Enough I Do I Do Singapore Gaga Just Follow Law , Money...
- filmmaker and SFD’s current Executive Secretary - Seelan Palay – social political activist and artist
- Rachel Zeng – socio-political activist, artist and childcare expert
- Ho Choon Hiong - filmmaker and socio-political activist