UPR Sexual Rights Database

National Report:
Para 93) We firmly oppose discrimination and harassment and have laws to protect all our citizens from such conduct. All Singapore citizens, regardless of their sexual orientation, are free to pursue their activities in their private space. Singapore also takes steps to protect members of the LGBTI community against discrimination. For instance, the Government ensures that persons seeking a job in the civil service are not discriminated against on the basis of their sexual orientation. POHA also enables victims of harassment to obtain protection orders more easily. Notably, the 2019 MRHA amendments make it an offence to knowingly urge violence against persons and groups on the grounds of religion or religious beliefs. This protection is accorded to both religious groups and non-religious ones, including the LGBTI community.

Stakeholder Summary:
Para 11) JS2 stated that lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) individuals in Singapore continued to experience violence and discrimination in public and private spheres, from State and non-State actors. Deliberate policy, institutional gaps, and a lack of anti-discrimination legislation, based on sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, and sex characteristics (SOGIESC), compounded and contributed to the human rights violations against them.
Para 12) JS3 stated that although section 377A of the Penal Code, criminalising consensual sexual behaviour between adult males, had not been enforced since the last universal periodic review of Singapore in 2016, its continued existence permitted the institutionalisation of discriminatory policies against not just gay men, but the whole lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT+) community.
Para 16) JS2 stated that violence against LGBTQ persons was often perpetrated by family members, with disproportionate consequences for LBTQ women and persons assigned female at birth. This was worsened by the high cost of living and inability to move out of family homes, compounded by discriminatory housing policies.
Para 17) JS4 stated that transgender people faced numerous challenges in the forms of discrimination in employment, education, marriage, housing and healthcare settings; violence at home and in public spaces; conversion therapy; barriers to reporting; and gaps in service provision.
Para 18) JS6 stated that trans persons who did not wish to undergo, or could not afford, genital surgery, were unable to change their legal gender.
ra 39) JS2 stated that given the general societal lack of understanding of LGBTQ identities and relationships, service providers and law enforcement lacked the training to address reports of violence sensitively, even when victims sought help. There were no State services and few non-State services available for LGBTQ-affirmative intervention and counselling.
Para 40) JS4 stated that the stigma of being LGBTQ, associated with Penal Code Section 377A and media censorship, was a contributing factor in the failure to report or seek help when abused.
Para 91) JS3 stated that it was a common occurrence that upon the landlord’s discovery that tenants were from the LGBT+ community, there was either immediate eviction, or the threat of eviction coupled with the option of paying increased rent. Gay male couples and transgender persons were particularly impacted.
Para 101) JS2 stated that LGBTQ children were often targeted by peers for their perceived non-conformity in sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, which could lead to many dropping out of school early or detrimental effects on mental health. It stated that many LGBTQ students feared seeking help, as perpetrators would threaten to disclose their sexual orientation/gender identity to their peers or teachers.

National Report:
Para 78) We supported Recommendations 94.18-19, 95.4 and 96.33 because we do not condone any form of Trafficking In Persons (TIP) and we seek to protect victims who fall prey to this scourge.

Para 79) We launched a National Plan of Action on TIP in 2012. This adopted a "4P" strategy to combat TIP - Prevention, Prosecution, Protection and Partnership. The InterAgency TIP Task Force has been implementing this plan, including securing a dedicated budget to fund various TIP efforts. It continues to work closely with other institutions, civil society and our international partners.

Para 80) Prevention of Human Trafficking Act. Our Parliament passed the Prevention of Human Trafficking Act in November 2014, which took effect on 1 March 2015. This Bill was developed by Member of Parliament Mr Christopher de Souza with the support of the TIP Task Force, and after extensive consultations with civil society and the public.

Para 81) This Act is an important additional tool for Singapore to deter and combat TIP. It clarifies the legal regime by providing a formal definition of TIP and prescribing severe penalties in a more targeted manner. Traffickers can be jailed for up to 10 years and fined up to S$100,000 for the first offence. The Court may also impose caning. We support these strong penalties because they serve as a strong deterrent against this serious crime. For cases involving children, this Act lowers the threshold of proof so that investigations can be initiated more easily.

Para 82) This Act also supports our collaboration with external law enforcement agencies for cases involving persons trafficked to, or through, Singapore. Our law enforcement officers are now empowered to investigate intermediaries in the trafficking chain. This Act also provides measures to protect the welfare of trafficked victims and to encourage the reporting of trafficking or suspected trafficking activity through provisions to protect informers.

Para 83) Singapore's recent efforts to combat TIP were positively noted in the June 2015 United Nations Secretary-General's report on TIP, which highlighted the Prevention of Human Trafficking Act and our work with NGOs to help businesses understand the implications of TIP for their supply chain management, among others. Most recently, Singapore acceded to the UN TIP Protocol in September 2015. This is an important step towards stronger cooperation with international law enforcement agencies. At the regional level, Singapore has worked closely with other ASEAN countries to conclude an ASEAN Convention to Combat, Prevent and Suppress TIP, which will be accompanied by a regional plan of action. This will improve regional capability to combat TIP and protect its victims.

Para 84) Protection of and assistance for victims of trafficking. Singapore's approach to TIP is not just about having effective laws and enforcing them. We also emphasise increasing public awareness of the TIP issue and protecting victims, including removing barriers that may impede them from approaching our authorities for assistance. Regardless of how a victim of trafficking is identified, once a person claims to be a victim or is identified to be a victim due to the presence of elements of TIP, they will be treated as such. Under the Prevention of Human Trafficking Act, there are measures to protect victims such as mandatory in-camera court proceedings for child victims and media gag orders for proceedings involving sexual exploitation. We also extend assistance to all victims. The Government works with a network of NGOs to provide them with food, shelter, medical care, trauma counselling and repatriation assistance. The movement of victims at shelters is not restricted.

UN Compilation:
Para 22) While welcoming the establishment of the Inter-agency Task Force on Trafficking in Persons and the adoption of the definition of "trafficking in persons", the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women remained concerned at the continuing prevalence of trafficking in women and girls in the country, the alleged criminalization and deportation of trafficked women and girls as immigration offenders and the low reporting rate ...