Young people from Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand have shared their vision for societies without torture as part of the first-ever #SafeInCustody public speaking competition, held across the three South-East Asian nations on 10 and 11 December 2023.
The two winners from each country will now meet in a regional final, which will showcase the knowledge, energy and insights of young people and help reshape public attitudes in support of improved police practices.
Marking Human Rights Day and the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), the national competitions was co-hosted by APT and our #SafeInCustody partners Cross-Cultural Foundation (Thailand), SUARAM (Malaysia) and Task Force Detainees of the Philippines (TFDP).
“The three competitions were a unique opportunity for young people to be catalysts of change by highlighting the need for reform and proposing concrete actions to safeguard human rights in police custody,” APT Regional Project Manager Nid Satjipanon said.
“Listening to their passion and eloquence, it was hard to believe that, for many participants, this was the first time that they had engaged in public speaking.”
The competition is about more than just speeches. It's about the passion and dedication of our young voices to transform the public mindset and reaffirm the fundamental human right that no one shall be subjected to torture.”
The winners of the inaugural #SafeInCustody public speaking competition were:
- Thailand: Ms Pangwan Pholphirun and Mr Rosalan Sankoh
- Malaysia: Ms Farisha Schezwen and Mr Lee Shi Yi
- Philippines: Mr Emmanuelle Glyde Suycano and Ms Bernadette Fae Taroc.
Each winner exhibited a profound understanding of the issues, emphasising the importance of police upholding fundamental safeguards while performing their duties and ensuring the safety and security of each person in police custody.
These six young people will now proceed to the regional final, which will take place in Kuala Lumpur on 20 January 2024. The judging panel will include representatives from the APT and our #SafeInCustody partners, along other human rights experts.
“We were highly inspired witnessing the power of passionate young people uniting for a cause as crucial as preventing torture,” said CrCF Project Manager Prakaidao Phurksakasemsuk. “It fills us with hope for a future where compassion and advocacy prevail against such injustices.”
“This competition was an excellent opportunity for youth to develop skills in critical thinking and effectively communicating complex topics to the public,” said SUARAM Project Manager Azura Nasron. “Although the topic is challenging, each student displayed great enthusiasm and delivered serious content in a concise and compelling manner.
The #SafeInCustody project, which aims to reduce risky police practices in Thailand, Malaysia and the Philippines, is funded by the European Union.
