Minister of State for Community Development, Youth and Sports, Mdm Halimah Yacob, presented Singapore’s Fourth Periodic Report at the 49th Session of the United Nations (UN) Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women on 22 July 2011 at the UN Headquarters in New York.
Singapore acceded to the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) on 5 October 1995. The Singapore delegation comprised representatives officials from key government agencies represented on the Inter-Ministry Committee responsible for monitoring compliance with CEDAW1.
In her opening statement before the Committee, Mdm Halimah gave an overview of Singapore’s progress and compliance with the Convention. Some of the milestones highlighted included amendments made to the Women’s Charter to strengthen the enforcement of maintenance procedures and mitigate the impact of divorces on women, the Income Tax Act to allow women to claim Spouse Relief, the Penal Code to protect young women and girls against exploitation for commercial sex, and the Children and Young Persons Act to enhance the care of girls and boys placed in Children’s and Young Persons Homes and the management of child protection cases.
Other key developments highlighted included enhancements made to maternity benefits and protection through the Marriage and Parenthood Package and measures taken to address the situation of specific groups of women, such as enhancing the protection of women migrant workers and sustaining the fight against trafficking in persons. Mdm Halimah also announced the narrowing of the scope of Singapore’s reservations to Articles 2 and 16 of CEDAW2 following significant developments on the practice of sharia law in Singapore.
On the constructive dialogue with the Committee Mdm Halimah said, “There has been much progress in the status of women in Singapore but there is always more that can be done. The Singapore Government is committed to ensuring the progress of women and to the full and practical realisation of our CEDAW obligations.”
Further details of the presentation can be found at the UN website at http://www.un.org/en/unpress/.
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1 The delegation comprised Ms Ong Toon Hui, Chair of the Inter-Ministry Committee on CEDAW, and officials from the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports; the Ministry of Manpower; the Ministry of Home Affairs; the Ministry of Health; the Islamic Religious Council; and the Attorney-General’s Chambers.
2 Upon accession to the Convention, Singapore had tendered reservations to Articles 2 and 16 in view of the Constitution which provides for freedom of religion and protects the rights of the Malay community.
ANNEX
Annex B- STATEMENT BY MDM HALIMAH YACOB, MINISTER OF STATE FOR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, YOUTH AND SPORTS AND LEADER OF THE SINGAPORE DELEGATION TO THE 49TH CEDAW SESSION [61.5 KB]