STATEMENT BY MARK NEO, DEPUTY PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF SINGAPORE TO THE UNITED NATIONS, AT THE HIGH-LEVEL EVENT ON CONTRIBUTIONS OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND THE RULE OF LAW IN THE POST-2015 DEVELOPMENT AGENDA, 9-10 JUNE 2014

Mr President,

                   Thank you for convening this important meeting.  In the discussions on the post-2015 development agenda, the linkages between human rights, rule of law, and development have generated heated debate among the stakeholders. 

2                 Singapore’s view is that it is indisputable that the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms has to go hand-in-hand with the articulation and the subsequent implementation of the post-2015 development agenda. 

3                 Nevertheless, much of the debate has mostly been theoretical and, hence, unhelpful.  Allow me to illustrate this with an example from Singapore’s developmental experience.  

Public housing in Singapore

4                 Today, a visitor to Singapore will quickly notice tall residential buildings built all over our small island, a key feature of our landscape, which we call Housing Development Board (HDB) flats.  However, in the early 1960s, Singaporeans were still living in squalid and overcrowded slums constructed with wood, cardboards and zinc sheets and had limited access to public utilities like electricity, water or gas. 

5                 The right to property is not in Singapore’s Constitution.  Nonetheless, we have always been strongly in favour of home-ownership.  Through the Land Acquisition Act, the government acquired land for development, which was used to build public housing of the highest quality possible at the time, on a huge scale.   The Act allowed us to also plan integrated housing estates, with green spaces and public amenities throughout the island. Today, about 85 percent of Singaporeans live in public housing and home ownership is around 90 percent, one of the highest in the world. 

The role of human rights and rule of law in the post-2015 development agenda

6                 From Singapore’s experience, we have upheld the rule of law, established an effective and well-functioning legal system, and put in place good laws that uphold individual and public interests. We are of the view that the rule of law is fundamental to any society as it provides the framework within which human rights and fundamental freedoms can be respected. But dogmatic insistence that certain human rights must be specified in the post-2015 development agenda or that the development agenda must capture rights-based language, is not only unnecessary but could even be harmful.  This cookie-cutter approach presumes that the development challenges confronting every country are the same and gives governments little freedom to choose their path to progress.

7                 In this regard, there are three key principles which we think should be reflected in the agenda.  First, governments should put the people first - a “people-centred” approach when choosing between policy options and in public service delivery.  Second, the agenda should recognise that no person should be above the law – that should apply in equal measure to the government as much as it does to everyone else. Third, governments are accountable to their people.    

Mr President,

8                 The rule of law was the foundation on which Singapore was built, and continues to provide the framework for its proper functioning.  It would have been impossible for Singapore to develop had we not established a well-functioning legal system.  We have no natural resources with which to attract investors, and in the early days, no human resources to speak of.  The only reason foreign investors came to Singapore was because we provided them with legal certainty. 

9                 For this reason, Singapore is supportive of a standalone goal on the rule of law.  In addition, we are pleased that our proposed targets on accessibility of laws and establishing regimes to combat corruption have been included in the “zero draft” of goals and targets of the Open Working Group on Sustainable Development Goals.   

10               However, we are of the view that there is no single or fixed path to development.  What works for Singapore may not work for another country.  We are strongly convinced that the post-2015 development agenda needs to allow for the diversity of national circumstances, respect national ownership and take into account the norms, values and political and socioeconomic realities of each country.

Mr President,

11               There has been deep introspection on why we have not achieved the Millennium Development Goals.  There are no easy answers.  My delegation is of the view that it is futile having only lofty ideals of promoting human rights and flawless laws on paper.  What is important is that we have a sound legal framework in place, look at the practical realities we are faced with and implement our laws and obligations in the best way that would benefit society and our people.  Thank you.    

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