12 Oct 2015
Mr Chairman,
Thank you for giving me the floor.
2 A few days ago, all of us witnessed the adoption of the transformative, inclusive and integrated 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. I would like to take this opportunity to update colleagues on Singapore’s progress towards Goal 5 of the Sustainable Development Goals – achieving gender equality and empowering all women and girls.
3 2015 is a momentous year for Singapore as we celebrate 50 years of independence. It is also the 20th anniversary of our accession to the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Gender equality and women’s empowerment as an economic imperative
4 At the UN, we often hear the saying that gender equality and women’s empowerment is “smart economics”. This has been true for Singapore from the start; with our people being our only available resource, providing equal opportunities for men and women on the basis of meritocracy was a matter of economic survival. This remains pertinent today given Singapore’s very low birthrate and rapidly ageing population. We have introduced a range of measures to help working mothers better manage their work and family commitments. For example, the WorkPro scheme encourages employers to implement flexible work arrangements and redesign jobs to encourage economically-inactive Singaporeans to return to the workforce.
5 We continue to refine our policies to better support working mothers, by providing longer paid maternity leave, extended child care leave and increasing childcare facilities. We encourage better shared parental responsibilities. In August 2015, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong announced an enhancement of paternity leave. Working fathers will now have up to two weeks of government-paid paternity leave.
6 The employment rate of women in their prime working age has risen from 57 per cent in 1995 to 76 per cent in 2014. The employment rate of older women also improved during this period, from 19 per cent to nearly 53 per cent. More women are now in previously male-dominated professions such as the legal, engineering, medicine and accounting professions. Recently, one of our universities - the Singapore Institute of Management (SIM) University - appointed Dr Aline Wong as its Chancellor, marking another breakthrough for women in high office.
7 Singapore was also ranked 15th out of 152 countries on the Gender Inequality Index in the 2014 UN Human Development Report. This reflects the commitment Singapore has made to ensure that our fundamental principle of meritocracy is applied to both women and men, as integral and equal members of society.
New Legislation
8 Women in Singapore enjoy strong legal protection. Their rights are protected in the Constitution as well as in legislation such as the Employment Act, the Women’s Charter and the Penal Code.
9 Last year, Singapore enacted the Protection from Harassment Act, which enhances the protection of persons against harassment such as cyber-bullying, stalking and sexual harassment both within and outside the workplace. This Act is an important addition to our legislation given the high usage of the internet in Singapore and the likelihood that acts of harassment may take place online.
10 Another new legislation, the Prevention of Human Trafficking Act, criminalises trafficking in persons (TIP) in the form of sex, labour and organ trafficking. It adopts the definition of TIP used in the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, especially Women and Children (TIP Protocol). Soon after the Act came into force in March 2015, a man was charged with trafficking a minor in April 2015. In addition, Singapore acceded to the TIP Protocol on 28 September 2015, demonstrating our commitment to combatting TIP.
Remaining challenges
11 Despite our achievements thus far, we recognise that more can and needs to be done in areas such as increasing women’s representation at higher corporate levels. Currently only 8.3% of companies listed on the Singapore Exchange have women on their boards of directors. A year ago, we established a Diversity Action Committee comprising business leaders and professionals from the private, people and public sectors to increase the proportion of women on the boards of companies listed on the Singapore Exchange.
Mr Chairman,
12 The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development stands us in good stead to continue improving the status of women. Singapore remains committed to the goal of achieving gender equality and empowering women and girls and will continue to work with all elements of society, including individuals, companies and civil society, to do so.
Thank you.
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