Singapore signs UN convention on eliminating racial discrimination

SINGAPORE signed the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD) on Oct 19 in New York and is expected to ratify the convention in 2017, the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY) said in a press release on Tuesday.

This United Nations (UN) convention "condemns racial discrimination based on race, colour, descent, nationality or ethnic origin, and calls upon states to pursue a policy of eliminating racial discrimination in all its forms", MCCY noted.

The ministry added that it would work with stakeholders, including consulting the public, to fulfil its obligations.

Grace Fu, the Minister for Culture, Community and Youth, said in a statement: ""Over the last 50 years, we have built a Singapore where every citizen matters, regardless of race, language or religion. This has been our fundamental approach to nation-building and will continue to guide us into the future. Signing the ICERD further entrenches our commitment to this end, to unequivocally show that racial discrimination has no place in Singapore."