Fridae

Defamation and privacy laws are the twin tools of a media lawyer to help his clients control their image. Both try to prevent information or expressions from being published in an attempt to shield a public figure from potential dip in popularity polls. Fridae’s legal columnist George Hwang explains the two.

Singapore will undergo its first Universal Periodic Review (UPR) – the only universal mechanism that reviews the human rights situation in all 192 UN Member States once every four years – on 6 May 2011. Fridae’s legal columnist George Hwang explains the process in relation to Singapore’s gay sex laws.

While wills are one of the most commonly used tools to ensure that one's possessions are inherited by the intended beneficiaries, it can also be a lasting way to pronounce one's care and love for one's partner, LGBTQ child, siblings and friends. Fridae's legal columnist George Hwang suggests how.

In his first column this year, Fridae’s legal columnist George Hwang discusses the courage and right to love, and challenges those who are celebrating the Lunar New Year to either invite his or her partner to family celebrations or to show him or her to a friend.

The Lawyer Is In is a monthly legal column by George Hwang who will answer questions from readers. This month, he discusses two cases whereby one was outed at work as HIV positive by an anonymous person and another has a non-Singaporean partner who is HIV positive.

George Hwang attended and spoke at the First International Conference on Human Rights in Southeast Asia held recently in Bangkok where he heard many stories of the struggles of sexual minorities, and challenges readers to be special and brave.

Following the news of a young man in the US who killed himself after his roommate webcasted him “live” in a sexual encounter with another man, an informal check indicates that Singapore educational institutions do not seem to have any guidelines to deal with similar issues.

The Lawyer Is In is a new monthly legal column by George Hwang who will answer questions from readers. This month, he discusses intestacy laws, wills, Lasting Power of Attorney, executing an Advanced Medical Directive, and possible complications if one party is Muslim and is subject to Syriah Law.

The Lawyer Is In is a new monthly legal column by George Hwang who will answer questions from readers on subjects related to civil rights, workplace issues, discrimination, immigration, sexuality, privacy, estate planning and assets management; personal rather than business issues. In short, daring to be who you are and living your chosen life proudly, in Singapore.