SINGAPORE – Singapore’s efforts to protect workers from discrimination and to provide families with strong support in raising children were highlighted in the Republic’s latest report to the United Nations, submitted as part of a routine review of each member state’s human rights record.
The report, which is publicly available on the UN website, took stock of the human rights situation in the city-state and outlined the progress made in implementing recommendations that it accepted during the last Universal Periodic Review (UPR) in 2021.
The UPR looks at the human rights records of all 193 UN member states every five years. Its assessment is based on reports submitted by the country under review, its civil society organisations, as well as the UN’s Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.
Following its previous UPR in 2021, Singapore supported 210 out of the 324 recommendations received. It supported 125 of the 236 recommendations received in 2016.
The latest national report said Singapore has made significant strides in equality and non-discrimination through legislative reforms.
These included the passing of landmark workplace fairness laws that will kick in at end-2027, which prohibit discrimination based on age; nationality; sex, marital status, pregnancy status and caregiving responsibilities; race, religion and language; and disability and mental health conditions.
Following extensive public consultations and parliamentary debate, the Government repealed Section 377A, a colonial-era law that criminalised gay sex. This took effect on Jan 3, 2023.
Parliament simultaneously enacted Article 156 of the Constitution to clarify that it is for the legislature to define, regulate, protect, safeguard, support, foster and promote marriage.
