STATEMENT BY MR MARK SEAH DEPUTY PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF SINGAPORE AT THE 76TH UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY THIRD COMMITTEE GENERAL DEBATE 30 SEPTEMBER 2021

1 Thank you, Mr Chair. I commend you and your Bureau for your transparent and inclusive consultations on the programme of work for this committee.

2 For the second consecutive year, this General Debate takes place in the shadow of COVID-19. COVID-19 has had a profound, persisting impact on our societies, economies and peoples. It has set back the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals in many countries, especially developing countries. Even as we have successfully developed vaccines to fight the virus, access to these vaccines remains grossly uneven. I call on all countries to commit to “vaccine multilateralism”; to ensure affordable, fair and equitable access to vaccines; and to support the central role of the WHO in coordinating international health responses. Deeper global collaboration is crucial if the international community is to move decisively towards a sustainable, inclusive and resilient recovery, and to truly achieve the promise of the 2030 Agenda to “leave no one behind”.

Mr Chair,

3 Singapore is fully committed to upholding the principles enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Our human rights approach is grounded in a strong adherence to the rule of law. Our objective is to build a fair and inclusive society for our people, one tailored to our unique historical, social and cultural context. Our aim is to improve the lives and livelihoods of all Singaporeans. We do not claim that what works for us will work for others. The converse is also true. We should bear in mind that all countries have the sovereign right to determine their own legal and political systems. While we can and should have frank discussions, no country or group of countries has the authority to impose its model of human rights on others. It is for this reason that Singapore does not agree with country-specific resolutions, which we regard as driven by political rather than human rights considerations. We are not convinced that targeting the domestic policies of individual countries will help resolve human rights issues. Such actions only entrench differences and build walls rather than bridges.  

Mr Chair, 

4 As a small island state with practically no natural resources, the survival and success of Singapore depends on our people. For this reason, the Singapore government spares no effort to promote the well-being of vulnerable groups in our society, including children, older persons, persons with disabilities and women. Children and youth are Singapore’s future, and we will do our utmost to give every child a good start. Through programmes such as KidSTART, we provide holistic support for the health, social, and development needs of children from low-income families. Singapore is also committed to building an inclusive society that empowers persons with disabilities to realise their full potential, in line with Sustainable Development Goal 10. Through national roadmaps known as the “Enabling Masterplans”, Singapore has put in place a range of initiatives to steer our country towards a “disability-inclusive” COVID-19 recovery.

5 Singapore also remains committed to empowering women and girls as fully equal members of society, in line with Sustainable Development Goal 5. Women in Singapore enjoy strong legal protection under our Constitution and laws, such as the Women’s Charter and the Penal Code. However, we recognise that more needs to be done. Singapore has declared 2021 the “Year of Celebrating Singapore Women” to recognise the invaluable contributions of women in building our nation. We are continually looking for ways to uplift Singapore women, such as through our recent “National Conversations on Singapore Women’s Development” initiative.

Mr Chair,  

6 2021 marks the twentieth anniversary of the adoption of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action to combat racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance.  Eliminating all forms of racism and racial discrimination is a key historic priority for Singapore. As a multi-racial and multi-religious society, the early days of Singapore’s independence were fraught with inter-communal tensions and even violence. History has taught us that our society cannot be fractured along racial and religious lines. The racial and religious harmony that Singapore enjoys today is the hard-won result of decades of work to build trust and understanding between our various communities.  Today, we are proud to share that one in every five marriages in Singapore is inter-ethnic. However, we do not take this for granted. Globally, the pandemic has deepened societal fault lines and inflamed latent tensions. Singapore is firmly committed to upholding our obligations under the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. We stand ready to work with the international community to overcome the scourge of racism, discrimination and intolerance.

Mr Chair,  

7 Singapore believes that it is incumbent on all governments to remain accountable, exercise good governance, and uphold the rule of law to better protect the lives of our people. Ultimately, the protection and promotion of human rights requires the urgent implementation of all the Sustainable Development Goals. This is ever more salient today as we deal with the crippling effects of the pandemic. Above all, to advance dialogue on human rights, we must first appreciate each other’s unique circumstances, engage constructively with one another, and maintain mutual respect for each other. It is only in such a spirit of cooperation and respect that we can truly build trust and understanding to advance our discourse.  Thank you for your attention.

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