STATEMENT BY AMBASSADOR KAREN TAN, PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF SINGAPORE TO THE UNITED NATIONS, AT THE 60TH SESSION OF THE COMMISSION ON THE STATUS OF WOMEN, 14-24 MARCH 2016

Mr Chair,

          Thank you for convening this meeting.  Singapore aligns itself with the statements delivered by Thailand on behalf of the Group of 77 and China, and Vietnam on behalf of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

        Since independence, Singapore has been committed to the advancement of women as integral and equal members of our society. The principle of equality of all persons before the law is enshrined in Article 12 of the Constitution which specifically provides that “All persons are equal before the law and entitled to the equal protection of the law.” Gender equality in Singapore is also upheld by our founding principle of meritocracy, whereby equal opportunities are available to all, and rewards and advancement are based not on gender, or other discriminatory criteria, but on merit.  This principle has been essential to Singapore throughout its development journey. 

        Upon this foundation, Singapore has carefully built up fundamental developmental enablers, such as education, social protection and healthcare for all.         Ensuring that all Singaporeans have access to quality and affordable healthcare, as reflected in SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-Being), has been a key contributor to Singapore’ development. The Singapore government has invested much effort in promoting healthy living and preventive health programmes, as well as maintaining high standards of living, clean water and hygiene to achieve better health for all.  Aside from granting women equal access to healthcare resources, Singapore has paid special attention to women’s healthcare needs e.g. by providing subsidised breast and cervical cancer screenings. Life expectancy at birth for Singapore women increased from 82 years in 2004 to 84.9 years in 2014; while Singapore’s maternal mortality rate was 2 per 100,000 live and still-births in 2014.

        Sustainable Development Goal 4, Quality Education, has underpinned Singapore’s development, and formed an important springboard to gender equality for Singaporean women and girls.  All children, girls as well as boys, have equal access to a high standard of education.  As a result, Singapore has achieved a high literacy rate for women of 94.9% of resident females aged 15 years and over in 2014. Female students made up 50.9% of the full-time enrolment at Singapore universities in 2014. Indeed, women are now well-represented in subjects that were traditionally viewed as male domains. For example, in 2014, women made up 71.4% of health sciences graduates and 58.4% of natural, physical and mathematical science graduates.

          Another positive knock-on effect is that women have made great inroads into previously male-dominated professions such as the legal, engineering, medicine and accounting professions. Singapore women have made significant contributions in scientific research and development, making up 28% of research scientists and engineers in 2013.  Women also formed an increasing proportion of employers in Singapore – about 28% in 2014, up from 20% in 2004.  To encourage women to enter and remain in the workforce, Singapore has sought to improve women’s educational and skills profile, provide employment and training assistance, as well as help women better balance their careers and family, with measures to promote work-life harmony and flexible work arrangements. The Singapore government has also taken steps to enhance parental leave benefits, so as to provide longer paid maternity leave and childcare leave for mothers and fathers, as well as financial support for parents to raise and care for their children.

        Such measures have enabled women to take their rightful place among men in the workforce, and increased their participation in decision-making positions. In business, the pipeline of women entrepreneurs has strengthened in recent years, with more of them gaining a strong foothold in the local start-up scene. Singapore women have also made significant inroads in innovative technologies. One example is Ms Olivia Lum, Group President & CEO of Hyflux Ltd, a leader in the area of water technology innovation. Hyflux membrane products and systems are now in use in over 400 locations across the globe, contributing to water solutions world-wide.  Ms Lum is a living example of how achieving progress in one SDG, i.e. Quality Education, can have a positive multiplier effect on many others, i.e. Gender Equality (SDG 5), Good Health And Well-Being (SDG 3), Clean Water And Sanitation (SDG 6), Decent Work and Economic Growth (SDG 8), Innovation and Infrastructure (SDG 9) and Sustainable Cities and Communities (SDG 11)!

Mr Chair,

        Singapore takes the protection of women’s rights seriously. Women in Singapore enjoy strong legal protection under the Singapore Constitution as well as in legislation such as the Employment Act, the Women’s Charter, the Penal Code, the Protection from Harassment Act and the Prevention of Human Trafficking Act.  In September 2015, Singapore acceded to the UN Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, otherwise known as the UN TIP Protocol, which underscored our commitment to combat all forms of trafficking in persons.  The Singapore government continues to work towards stronger cooperation with international law enforcement agencies in fighting this transnational scourge, and will continue to work to raise public awareness of the issue in Singapore, strengthen enforcement, and enhance the provision of care to trafficked victims.

Mr Chair,

        These are just some examples of Singapore’s efforts towards advancing gender equality and empowerment of women.  Even more can and should be done towards achieving this important cause, and in this regard, Singapore remains committed to doing so in the context of realising the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.  

Thank you.  

.    .    .    .    .