03 Oct 2023
Mr Chair,
1 Singapore aligns itself with the statement made by Thailand, on behalf of ASEAN.
2 We are at a pivotal moment for gender equality. This year, we have crossed the halfway mark to the deadline for implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. However, social and economic inequalities have worsened everywhere as a result of the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and other intersecting crises, with disproportionate effects on women. Sustainable development simply cannot be achieved by excluding half the population.
3 In this context, Singapore strongly reaffirms its support for the full, effective, and accelerated implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, as well as for our commitment to the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women. We also reaffirm our support for the Commission on the Status of Women in advancing efforts to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 5.
Mr Chair,
4 As a small city state with no natural resources, Singapore’s most valued resource is our people. Singapore remains steadfastly committed to ensuring equal rights and opportunities for women. This commitment is reflected in our Constitution, laws, and legislation, where women’s rights are protected robustly in extensive legislation such as the Women’s Charter and the Employment Act.
5 Singapore also strongly believes that the seeds for achieving gender equality and the empowerment of women must be sown at a young age, through carefully crafted policies. All children in Singapore have equal access to a high standard of education, in line with Sustainable Development Goal 4. Over half of our residents aged 25 years and over with university qualifications are women, and our female literacy rate was 96.4% in 2021. Today, women in Singapore have made great inroads into male-dominated professions such as medicine, scientific research, and digital entrepreneurship. Women make up 41% of our tech professionals, well above the global average of 28%.
6 Nonetheless, there is still more to do, and we cannot take our progress for granted. As we commemorate the 30th anniversary of the International Year of the Family next year, we must ensure that we support and empower women, who often shoulder a disproportionate share of caregiving responsibilities in their families. To find sustainable solutions for this, the Singapore government embarked on extensive national multi-stakeholder consultations, and published a “White Paper on Women’s Development” in March last year. The paper includes proposals for 25 action plans which will be implemented over 10 years.
7 We have achieved or are on track to achieve a good number of these action plans from the paper. So far, we have put in place policies to ensure greater tax relief for working mothers, as well as more financial aid to caregivers. A new set of guidelines for flexible work arrangements will also be introduced in 2024 to make it easier for them to work around family commitments.
8 We are also doing more to protect women from harms, both online and offline. In July this year, Singapore passed a bill to amend the Women’s Charter. The amendments, which include making clear that “family violence” covers physical, sexual, emotional, and psychological abuse, aim to better protect victims of family violence, which disproportionately affects women. We have also begun work on legislation against workplace discrimination, including discrimination based on age, race, and sex. Women who are pregnant, on maternity leave or breastfeeding, or intend to have children will be protected under the law to ensure a fairer workplace.
9 While we work hard on improving our policies and legislation for the advancement of women, the changing of mindsets and gender stereotypes is crucial for the next bound of progress. This is not a sprint, but a marathon, and we will continue to engage society to promote the advancement of women as equal members of society.
Mr Chair,
10 Singapore is honoured and humbled to have been listed as the top Asian country for gender equality, and to be ranked 7th worldwide for gender equality in the latest UN Human Development Report. However, our work is not yet done. We will continue our efforts to build a fairer and more inclusive society, as part of our goal of realising the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
11 I thank you, Mr Chair.
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