The Government plans to pass the “Maintenance of Racial Harmony Bill” later this year. As a group comprising of minorities, the proposed Maintenance of Racial Harmony Bill (“the Bill”) has raised considerable concerns.
Our key concerns with the Bill are:
- Lack of a full draft with the Bill’s specific provisions with which the public can submit informed feedback
- Vagueness and overly broad provisions of the Bill and its enforcement mechanisms, which can potentially lead to the disproportionate criminalisation of minorities who raise issues pertaining to race and racism
- The imposition of a Restraining Order which would pre-emptively allow the government to act against content before proving criminal conduct
- Reparative measures that appear to place the burden of reconcialiation on victims rather than seek to address the harm caused
The Bill sets us back in our obligations as a signatory of International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD), and does not in fact meaningfully address issues of racial discrimination in the country.
Members of the public are invited to submit their feedback and comments by 11 June 2024. Read or download our full report below (PDF, 5MB).
Beyond The Hijab 