STATEMENT BY AMBASSADOR BURHAN GAFOOR, PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF SINGAPORE TO THE UNITED NATIONS AT THE 80TH UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY THIRD COMMTITEE GENERAL DEBATE, 3 OCTOBER 2025 UNHQ, NEW YORK

Mr Chair, 

Thank you very much. Let me begin by congratulating you on your election as Chair to this very important Committee. We are especially pleased and proud to see a fellow ASEAN country chairing this very important Committee.  I would also like to commend you and your Bureau members for your very transparent and inclusive consultations on the programme of work for the Committee this year. We very much support your approach. My thanks also to our long-serving Secretariat and Secretary of the Committee for their hard work for this year.

2 Human rights have always been a fundamental pillar of the UN’s work. We have always in Singapore recognised the inextricable link between human rights and sustainable development, as well as the link between human rights and the dignity of all people. The principles enshrined in the UN Charter and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights are foundational to every society, every government and of course to the United Nations and to the work of this Committee. As a country, Singapore has always been committed to building a just and inclusive society for our people – one that is tailored to our unique historical, social and cultural context. We are committed to protecting the rights, dignity, safety and welfare of all Singaporeans. Our approach is based on a pragmatic ethos that aims to improve the lives and livelihoods of our people in meaningful and tangible ways. 

Mr Chair, 

3 The 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action this year is a timely reminder of the urgent need to redress gender inequality. In this context, Singapore reaffirms its unwavering commitment to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, and our support for Sustainable Development Goal 5 on Gender Equality. 

4 Singapore has always placed gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls at the center of our policies. There can only be meaningful development when women fully participate in society and the economy. We are pleased that today, we are ranked 8th in the UN Human Development Report’s Gender Inequality Index. Since the launch of our White Paper on Women’s Development in 2022, Singapore has strengthened our legislation to protect the rights of women at home and in workplaces. In 2023, we amended the Women’s Charter to empower victim-survivors of family violence to better protect themselves through restraining orders. This year, we passed the Workplace Fairness Legislation, which prohibits unfair employment decisions based on protected characteristics such as sex, marital status, pregnancy and caregiving responsibilities. But our efforts extend beyond legislation. At a societal level, we are also inculcating new norms rooted in respect and partnership. This includes encouraging greater shared parental responsibility in caregiving by doubling Government-Paid Paternity Leave, and strengthening public education to break gender stereotypes.  

5 Singapore is also working towards enabling persons with disabilities to fully contribute to society, in line with our commitments under the Convention of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. We have strengthened social protection services for persons with disabilities to enable them to live more independently. We have also introduced enhanced financial subsidies for long-term disability care services, and  schemes for persons with disabilities to build up their retirement savings earlier to safeguard their long-term financial security. These efforts reflect Singapore’s conviction that every individual deserves to live with dignity, security, and equal opportunity. 

Mr Chair, 

6 This principle of inclusion underpins our journey as a country.. Our Constitution mandates the principle of non-discrimination – that all persons are equal before the law. The Presidential Council for Minority Rights ensures that our laws do not contain any discriminatory provisions against racial or religious minorities.  Today, Singapore is one of the most diverse and harmonious societies in the world. A 2014 Pew Research Centre Report ranked Singapore as the most religiously diverse country, while a recent poll by Gallup World Poll found Singapore the top of 124 countries for tolerance and peaceful coexistence of ethnic minorities.

Mr Chair,

7 Another issue I would like to address is crime prevention, which is critical for the promotion and protection of human rights, as it ensures a safe environment where all individuals can enjoy their rights and freedoms. Singapore was named the world’s safest country in Gallup’s 2025 Global Safety Report. This is the result of considered policies to counter various transnational crimes, including cybercrime as well as drug trafficking. Given the increasingly cross-border nature of criminal activities, Singapore works closely with our international law enforcement counterparts to disrupt criminal networks and recover criminal proceeds.  
 
8 Another pervasive transnational threat is the scourge of drug abuse. As an international hub located near major drug production centres, Singapore is highly vulnerable to an inflow of illicit drugs. Nevertheless, we will not waver in our mission to achieve a society free of drug abuse, to ensure the health, safety and security of our people.  We believe that harm prevention is crucial, and have adopted an evidence-based approach to drug control, comprising preventive education, strict laws, rigorous enforcement, and effective rehabilitation. At the international level, Singapore will continue to support the impartial work of the UN Commission on Drugs and Crimes, and the International Narcotics Control Board and the Commission on Narcotics Drugs (CND). As a member of the CND, Singapore will do its part through capacity building and the sharing of scientific expertise.  

Mr Chair,

9 To conclude, Singapore believes that it is incumbent on all governments to remain accountable, exercise good governance, and uphold the rule of law to advance the rights of its people. We are pleased that we ranked well in various reports, including World Justice Project’s Rule of Law Index as well as the World Bank’s 2023 Worldwide Governance Indicators Index. That said, we recognise that what has worked for Singapore may not necessarily work for other countries. In seeking to advance dialogue on human rights, it is therefore important to have a dialogue based on mutual respect and mutual understanding. Singapore is very much committed to having this dialogue based on mutual respect here at the United Nations. In that spirit, we look forward to working with all our friends in this Committee. Thank you. 

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