STRONGER TOGETHER SHAPING SINGAPORE'S SHARED FUTURE - UNIVERSAL PERIODIC REVIEW 2021 - Ministry of Foreign Affairs Singapore
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STRONGER TOGETHER
SHAPING SINGAPORE’S
SHARED FUTURE
UNIVERSAL PERIODIC REVIEW 2021
Credit: Ministry of Defence Decked out in red and white in celebration of
Singapore’s National Day on 9 August 2017.
CONTENTS
1 2
THE SINGAPORE STORY SINGAPORE’S APPROACH
TO HUMAN RIGHTS
3 4-6
SHAPING SINGAPORE’S AN INCLUSIVE SOCIETY
SHARED FUTURE
7 8
A COHESIVE SOCIETY A RESILIENT SOCIETY
THE
SINGAPORE
STORY
A small, densely populated, Total population 5.69 million Resident population
multi-racial city-state. (as of June 2020). by religion.
(≥ 15 years old)
Note: Total population comprises Singapore
residents (i.e. Singapore Citizens and
Permanent Residents) and non-residents. Buddhism: 33.2%
Christianity: 18.8%
Islam: 14.0%
Taoism: 10.0%
Hinduism: 5.0%
No religion: 18.5%
Other religions: 0.6%
Note: Figures do not add up to 100% due to
No hinterland or natural COVID-19 brought rounding. The figures are as at June 2015.
resources. unprecedented challenges
to our position as a globally
connected city.
R E S I D E N T P O P U L AT I O N KEY
(a s o f J u n e 2 0 2 0 ) ACHIEVEMENTS
Note: Resident population refers to Singapore Citizens and
Permanent Residents. Public perceptions
1st for law and order
in the 2020 Gallup
Singapore’s ethnic composition Global Law and Order
Report, for the seventh
4.04 million residents
consecutive year.
Chinese
Order and Security in
74.3% the 2020 World
Justice Project’s Rule
of Law Index
Malay Save the Children’s
13.5% 2020 End of Childhood
Index
Indian UN’s 2020 Human
11th Development Index
9.0%
Others
2020 Gender
3.2% 12th Inequality Index
Source: Department of Statistics.
1
SINGAPORE’S APPROACH TO
HUMAN RIGHTS
Credit: Yishun Primary School.
Students celebrating Racial Harmony Day, 2019.
SI N GA PO R E A DOP T S A SI N GA PO R E IS COMM IT TE D
PR AGM ATI C , OUTCOM E S - BA SE D TO TH E UPR PRO CE SS
A PPROACH TO H UM A N R I GHT S
The Universal Periodic Review (UPR) is an
opportunity for Singapore to take stock of our
progress and engage with other States to exchange
views and share experiences on progress made and
challenges faced in the area of human rights.
There is no one-size-fits-all approach to the Singapore supported in whole or in part 125 out
promotion and protection of human rights. of the 236 recommendations received during
Human rights must take into account a country’s our 2nd UPR in 2016.
specific circumstances, including its cultural, social,
economic and historical contexts. Since then, we have consulted citizens and civil
society widely, and introduced new policies
and programmes that address many of the
recommendations from our 2nd UPR.
These include measures concerning children
and youth, women, migrants, persons with
disabilities, elderly persons, the right to education,
The rule of law is an essential precondition and protecting racial and religious diversity etc.
the bedrock for promoting and protecting
human rights.
2
SHAPING
SINGAPORE’S
SHARED FUTURE
Credit: Ministry of Community, Culture and Youth. Participants from the Young Leaders’ Programme at the International Convention
on Cohesive Societies held in 2019 engaging in discussion on topics related to
addressing challenges to social cohesion.
COV I D -19 A N D H UM A N R I G HT S Credit: Ministry of Manpower.
The COVID-19 pandemic is the greatest challenge
of our generation, and resulted in Singapore’s worst
recession since independence.
Singapore’s guiding principle throughout the
pandemic has been to adopt a human-centred
approach that leaves no one behind.
To promote and protect the human rights of our
people during this pandemic, Singapore introduced Migrant workers started receiving free COVID-19 vaccinations
a wide range of measures, which include from March 2021. They received a comprehensive
introducing schemes to support low-income and informational package in their native languages to help them
vulnerable residents, ensuring continued protection understand the safety and benefits of the vaccination.
for victims of family violence, and providing
everyone in Singapore, including migrant workers,
with the same level of COVID-19 related care.
3
AN INCLUSIVE
SOCIET Y
Credit: Early Childhood Development Agency.
Parents and children enjoying an activity at the Early
Childhood Conference in 2018.
PROTEC TI N G, C A R I N G A N D PROTEC T I N G, SUPPO R T I N G
M A X I M ISI N G TH E POTE NTI A L A N D E MPOW E R I N G WOME N
O F OU R CH I LDR E N AND GIRLS
To further promote and protect the rights of the To enhance protection for women against violence,
child, Singapore amended the Penal Code in 2019 Singapore fully repealed marital immunity for
to strengthen protection for children and youth rape and enhanced penalties to up to twice
against sexual exploitation. the maximum punishment for certain offences
committed against victims in an intimate or close
Singapore also amended the Children and Young relationship with the offender with effect from
Persons Act to extend protection to abused or January 2020.
neglected children aged below 18 years, up from
below 16 years. The fatwa (Islamic religious ruling) on joint tenancy
was revised in May 2019 to recognise joint tenancy
Singapore’s annual spending on early childhood contracts as religiously valid. This protects Muslim
education has tripled from around S$360 million widows, in particular, from financial distress and
(US$273 million) in 2012 to S$1 billion (US$759 uncertainty.
million) in 2018.
Singapore enacted the Vulnerable Adults Act in
Low-income working families can pay just S$3 2018 to protect persons aged 18 years and above,
(US$2.30) a month for full-day childcare or S$1 including women, who are unable to protect
(US$0.76) a month for kindergarten services at themselves from abuse, neglect, and self-neglect
government-supported preschools. due to physical or mental disability.
4
C A R I N G FO R OU R C A R I N G FO R A N D E MPOW E R I N G
M I G R A NT WOR K E RS PE RSO NS W ITH D ISA B I LITI E S
Credit: Ministry of Manpower. Credit: Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth.
Migrant workers in dormitories received free COVID-19 tests, and GetActive! Singapore 2017 at Sentosa.
started receiving COVID-19 vaccinations from 12 March 2021.
Singapore is committed to ensuring the well- Singapore has made further progress through
being, health and safety of migrants. Foreign our Third Enabling Masterplan (2017 to 2021)
workers and foreign domestic workers developed collaboratively by Government
(FDWs) are protected by a comprehensive agencies, persons with disabilities, disability
framework of laws and enforcement measures. organisations and the private sector.
The Penal Code was amended in 2019 to increase Early intervention (EI) has been made more
(by up to two times) the maximum punishment customised and affordable: Fees for most children
for an employer, a member of an employer’s were reduced by 30% to 70%, and two new EI
household, or an employment agency convicted programmes were introduced in 2019.
of offences such as causing hurt, assault, sexual
offences, and wrongful restraint or confinement Singapore launched CareShield Life in 2020, a
against FDWs. national long-term care insurance for severely
disabled Singapore Citizens and Permanent
The safekeeping of FDW salaries and the Residents born from 1980.
withholding of work permits or passports against
migrant workers’ (MWs’) wishes are illegal. Singapore has implemented measures to ensure
more inclusive infrastructure and services:
Our non-governmental organisations (NGOs) (such • All public bus services are now wheelchair-
as Migrant Workers’ Centre (MWC), Centre for accessible.
Domestic Employees, and Aidha) are invaluable
• A S$12 million (US$8.9 million) fund was
partners in ensuring that MWs understand their
also launched in 2019 to help vulnerable
rights and responsibilities and are aware of the
communities, including persons with disabilities,
avenues of assistance. Since December 2019,
to access sports.
we expanded the foreign worker Settling-In
Programme, conducted by the MWC, beyond the
Singapore is also co-creating solutions
construction sector to other sectors.
with persons with disabilities and disability
organisations through the launch of three cross-
sectoral workgroups in 2019 focusing on
(i) inclusive pre-schools; (ii) employment; and
(iii) independent living.
5
Credit: NTUC Health.
Seniors participating in an exercise activity organised
by NTUC Health.
H E LPI N G OU R E LDE R LY TO
LI V E FU LFI LLI N G LI V E S
Singapore will raise the Retirement Age (RA) Singapore has increased the number of Active
and Re-employment Age (REA) to 63 and 68 Ageing Hubs in housing estates. Active Ageing
respectively in 2022, with the eventual aim of Hubs are one-stop day centres for seniors that
increasing RA and REA to 65 and 70 respectively serve a range of needs - from active ageing
by the end of the decade. services for ambulant and healthy seniors, to
day care and day rehabilitation services for frail
From 2022, contributions to the Central Provident seniors.
Fund (CPF) (a mandatory social security savings
scheme) for senior workers aged above 55 to 70 Singapore will pilot housing models integrated
will be gradually increased to boost retirement with care services to facilitate independent
incomes. living for the elderly. The first such development
was launched in February 2021.
From age 65, CPF members will receive lifelong
monthly payouts in retirement under the CPF
Lifelong Income For The Elderly (CPF LIFE).
Since 2015, we have increased home and day
care places by 70% to support seniors to age in LI FE LO N G LE A R N I N G TO H E LP
place, and increased nursing home bed capacity SI N GA PO R E A NS ACH I E V E
by 30% for seniors who are frail and have limited TH E I R A SPI R AT I O NS
family support.
Singapore ensures affordable access to quality
education by providing heavily subsidised
education for all Singaporeans.
Singapore established the Uplifting Pupils in
Life and Inspiring Families Taskforce (UPLIFT) in
70% increase in 2018 to strengthen the ecosystem of support to
home and day care places. empower less-privileged children.
Every Singaporean aged 25 years and above
receives SkillsFuture Credit that can be used for
training courses.
30% increase in
nursing home beds.
6
A COHESIVE
SOCIET Y
Credit: Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth.
During the International Conference on Cohesive Society held in June 2019, senior religious
leaders launched the Commitment to Safeguard Religious Harmony that affirmed the shared
values to safeguard our religious harmony so as to foster a cohesive society.
PROTEC T I N G R ACI A L A N D
R E LI G I OUS D I V E RSIT Y
Singapore ratified the International Convention The inaugural International Conference on
on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Cohesive Societies (ICCS) in June 2019 saw more
Discrimination (ICERD) in 2017 and submitted than 1,100 participants from about 40 countries.
our first State Party report thereafter.
The conference participants shared their
Singapore amended our Constitution in 2016 experiences, discussed ideas and rallied all
to introduce a provision for reserved elections communities to make commitments and take
for the office of the President. If no one from a collaborative action to foster social cohesion and
given ethnic community has been President for interfaith harmony. Singapore plans to organise
any of the five most recent Presidential terms, the second edition of ICCS in 2022-2023.
the next Presidential election will be reserved
for a candidate from that community. In 2017,
Singapore’s first female President, Halimah Yacob,
took office.
Singapore aims to foster better understanding and
appreciation of the diverse religions and races in
Singapore through non-legislative and community-
driven initiatives such as the Broadening Racial
and Religious Interaction Through Dialogue and
General Education (BRIDGE) initiative launched in
2017 to provide safe spaces and opportunities for
dialogue and mutual learning.
7
A RESILIENT
SOCIET Y
Credit: National Healthcare Group.
Nurses attending to patients at Tan Tock Seng Hospital’s Emergency Department.
CO NTA I N I N G A N D
OV E RCOM I N G TH E COV I D -19
PA N DE M I C TOG E TH E R
Singapore rallied together as a nation to protect lives. Singapore provided financial support for low-
to-middle income households affected by the
During the “Circuit Breaker” (period of movement economic impact of COVID-19 through the
restrictions to curb the spread of COVID-19 from Temporary Relief Fund, the COVID-19 Support
7 April to 1 June 2020), social services and legal Grant, and the COVID-19 Recovery Grant.
resource for victims of family violence remained
available. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the same level
of medical care was extended to MWs and
Singapore implemented a whole-of-society Singaporeans. MWs in dormitories were provided
response in terms of testing, contact tracing and free COVID-19 tests. MWs were also provided with
treating those diagnosed with COVID-19. free meals, reusable masks, care packs, WiFi access
and SIM cards so that they could keep in touch
with family and friends. COVID-19 vaccinations for
MWs living in dormitories commenced in March
To our migrant workers, let me 2021. Vaccinations will be progressively made
emphasise again: we will care for you, available to all other MWs.
just like we care for Singaporeans.
Singapore’s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s
Singapore’s measures to address the impact of
Address on the COVID-19 Situation in Singapore, COVID-19 on migrant workers were acknowledged
21 April 2020.
and appreciated by the United Nations Special
Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants Felipe
González Morales, in his letter of 11 January 2021
to the Government.
8Overall, the Singapore Government committed a Singapore introduced the Jobs Support Scheme
total of S$10 billion (US$7.4 billion) towards cash which provided employers with co-funding of up
transfers and social assistance schemes, with to 75% of the first S$4,000 (US$3,500) of gross
support tilted towards lower-income households. monthly wages paid to local employees for up to
17 months.
The Singapore Government introduced Workfare Singapore introduced the Self-Employed Person
in 2007 to top up the incomes and retirement Income Relief Scheme (SIRS) to help Singaporean
savings of lower-wage workers. In 2020, to cushion self-employed persons with less means and
the impact of COVID-19, lower-wage workers family support tide across the period of economic
on Workfare received an additional S$3,000 uncertainty due to the pandemic. Beneficiaries
(US$2,260) of Workfare Special Payment, fully in received a SIRS payout of S$9,000 (US$7,900).
cash. S$1.5 billion (US$1.13 billion) of Workfare
Special Payments were paid out to some 500,000
workers in 2020.
Credit: Ministry of Social and Family Development.
Social Service Officers attending to residents in need of social assistance.
9While the information is considered to be true and correct at the date of publication,
developments after the time of publication may affect the accuracy of the information.
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