NATIONAL STATEMENT BY MR ERIC CHUA, SENIOR PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY FOR THE MINISTRY OF CULTURE, COMMUNITY AND YOUTH & MINISTRY OF SOCIAL AND FAMILY DEVELOPMENT, AT THE HIGH-LEVEL DEBATE ON “EQUAL ACCESS TO JUSTICE FOR ALL”, UN HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK, 15 JUNE 2023

Mr President,

1 Thank you for convening this High-Level Debate, which comes at a timely moment as we mark the halfway point in the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals this year. Singapore is strongly committed to the achievement of SDGs 5, 10 and 16 which relate to the promotion of equal access to justice for all, and the strengthening of effective, accountable, and transparent institutions at all levels. We also reaffirm our unwavering commitment to the Kyoto Declaration on Advancing Crime Prevention, Criminal Justice, and the Rule of Law adopted in 2021.

2 Singapore strongly believes that equal access to justice must be at the core of our justice systems. Even the best justice system would not serve its purpose if it was inaccessible. We must therefore ensure that justice is accessible to everyone, especially vulnerable persons, who face the highest risk of being shut out. Today, I will highlight key pillars of Singapore’s strategy, which includes legislation, policies and community initiatives.

3 First, the Singapore Government regularly reviews the level of access that low-income residents have to legal aid and representation in Court. For example, we recently established the Public Defender's Office in December 2022. This Office aims to enhance the provision of criminal defence aid to more Singaporeans by covering the bottom 35% of resident households by income.

4 Second, we continuously examine practical ways, including by leveraging technology, to simplify legal processes for Singapore residents. For example, we made two key enhancements in 2021 to court proceedings. Our Courts are now empowered to conduct hearings remotely. They can also conduct hearings through a documents-only hearing, or in an asynchronous manner. This reduces the costs of litigation and increases convenience for court users. We also modernised and simplified our court terminology to make it easier for court users and the general public to understand our laws and Court practices.

5 Third, we work continuously with the community and all relevant stakeholders to enhance our justice system, and ensure that it meets the current context and demands. For example, the Ministry of Law partners non-profit organisations and community groups to sustain community legal clinics that provide free legal advice. Through this multi-stakeholder approach, we hope to achieve better access to justice for all, through an effective and sustainable system.

6 Lastly, we pay special attention to the needs of vulnerable groups to ensure their access to justice. For example, we recognise the sensitivity and urgency in dealing with victims of sexual crime and family violence. In this regard, the Singapore Police Force set up a new Sexual Crime and Family Violence Command this year to oversee investigations and policies related to sexual crime and family violence. SPF also launched a website with information on sexual crime, investigation processes and victim care and support services to provide additional support for victims to seek avenues for justice. On the legislative front, we are empowering authorities with the necessary powers to intervene more quickly in high-risk cases of family violence.

Mr President,

7 Singapore is strongly committed to ensuring that equal access to justice is guaranteed for all, in spite of their circumstances. Only then can we truly achieve the promise of the 2030 Agenda to “leave no one behind”. I thank you, Mr President.

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