Protecting the rights of women and children

by Darshini Yoganathan and Chong Hui Ying

A series of milestone events marks 2011 as a significant year for Singapore in human rights. Singapore participated in its first Universal Periodic Review for an assessment of its laws and practices by submitting a national report and sending a delegation to the United Nations Human Rights Council, clarifying its position on many human rights issues before an international body for the first time.

The Republic also played host to the Summer Institute on International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights, drawing local and international participants to discuss women and children's rights. Earlier this month, a Singapore delegation led by Minister of State for Community Development, Youth and Sports Halimah Yacob presented a report to the UN Committee on women's rights in New York.

These key developments reflect the growing human rights discourse in Singapore. As a developed nation which enjoys a reputation for its good governance, sound judiciary and security, the human rights issues pertinent to Singapore are unique. These include the rights of women and children, two especially vulnerable groups of individuals whether in times of conflict or peace.

The special place of women and children is recognised in international law. Two UN treaties have been created specifically to address the unique protection needs of women and children are two of the most widely ratified treaties in the world: The Convention On The Elimination Of All Forms Of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

However, large gaps in the actual enforcement of protection for women and children persist.

Domestic violence against women was one of the issues that Singapore was queried on by CEDAW committee during their recent review at the United Nations. Progress has been made in respect of violence against women, where the 2008 amendments to the Penal Code have criminalised marital rape. However, the CEDAW committee noted that the criminal provisions only apply in limited circumstances, where the perpetrator and victim are living separately or pursuing a divorce. Support for legislative reform to protect women from marital rape has been generated through public engagement and advocacy; civil society must continue to inform the government of the realities of domestic violence to lobby for a repeal of the loopholes within the Penal Code.

Singapore is not alone in its lapses in protecting the rights of women and children. Across the globe, women continue to face gender-based violence ranging from domestic violence and sexual harassment.

The trafficking of women and girls for sexual labor remains one of the most serious concerns in the region. Speaking at the recent Summer Institute, Dr Saisuree Chutikul, former Thai Cabinet minister and member of the UN CEDAW committee, noted that efforts to free women and children in the illegal sex trade are not sufficient. The process of recovery, repatriation and reintegration for the rescued women and children is a long process wrought with obstacles, including the lack of resources, political will and stigmatisation from local communities. Root causes -including widespread poverty, limited access to education which render women and children in developing countries particularly susceptible to trafficking, and forced prostitution - must be addressed.

In further support of Singapore's commitment to addressing human rights issues at the local and regional levels, local academic institutions such as the law faculties of the Singapore Management University and National University of Singapore have launched initiatives to facilitate knowledge exchange and expertise in this field. At the recent Summer Institute held at SMU, Singapore representatives of the ASEAN Inter-governmental Commission for Human Rights and the Commission on the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Women and Children graced the affair. This signaled Singapore's willingness to be engaged in issues concerning the rights of women and children with human rights practitioners and fellow policymakers in the region.

Bearing the words of former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan in mind, "We will not enjoy security without development, we will not enjoy development without security, and we will not enjoy either without respect for human rights."


Ms Darshini Yoganathan is a recent graduate of the Singapore Management University and Ms Chong Hui Ying is final year law student at Singapore Management University. Both served as rapporteurs for the 2011 Summer Institute co-organised by SMU's Asian Peace-building and Rule of Law Programme.


(2011-8-14/todayonline)