UPR Sexual Rights Database

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UN Member State that is reviewed on its human rights record as part of the UPR process.

Categories of the types of information used during reviews

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Source of Reference

Recommending State

UN Member State or Permanent Observer making sexual rights related recommendations, comments or asking questions to the State under Review.

Review Documentation

Sources of information used as the basis for a State’s review.  Includes the State’s National Report, UN Compilation Report and a Stakeholder Summary.

UN Regional Group to which State under Review belongs.

UN Regional Group to which Recommending State belongs.

This will only match recommendations where the Source of Review is a State.

Implementation notes

State responses to recommendations and issues raised in the UN Compilation and Stakeholder summary.

Displaying 45676 - 45700 of 58160 recommendations found
  • State Under Review:

    Singapore

    Singapore
    Regional group
    Asia-Pacific Group
    Political group
    ASEAN
    Commonwealth
    Source Of Reference:

    UN Compilation

    Issue:
    • Gender perspective in policies, programmes
    • Training for state personnel on sexual rights issues
    Type:
    Review Documentation
    Session:
    38th Session, May 2021
    Status:
    Reference Addressed
    Contents:
    CEDAW recommended that the State continue to provide capacity-building programmes to the judiciary, law enforcement officers, border control officers, social workers and health workers with respect to the early identification and referral of victims of trafficking, as well as gender-sensitive investigation methods. [Para 49]
  • State Under Review:

    Singapore

    Singapore
    Regional group
    Asia-Pacific Group
    Political group
    ASEAN
    Commonwealth
    Source Of Reference:

    Thailand

    Thailand
    Regional group
    Asia-Pacific Group
    Political group
    ASEAN
    Issue:
    • International human rights instruments
    Type:
    Recommendation
    Session:
    24th session, January 2016
    Status:
    Unclear Response
    Contents:
    Consider acceding to the ICCPR and ICESCR.
    Explanation
    Noted. About a quarter of the recommendations that we noted relate to the ratification of international human rights treaties. Singapore takes our treaty obligations seriously and engages actively with the relevant treaty bodies. We also have a process under our Inter-Ministerial Committee on Human Rights to actively review Singapore's ability to ratify additional human rights treaties. Since we cannot prejudge the outcome of the review process, we are unable to commit ourselves to ratifying any of these specific treaties at this time, apart from the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD) and the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography (OP-CRC-SC), for which a review has already been completed. While Singapore may not be party to a particular human rights treaty yet, it does not mean that our outcomes are not already fully or largely in compliance with its objectives.
  • State Under Review:

    Singapore

    Singapore
    Regional group
    Asia-Pacific Group
    Political group
    ASEAN
    Commonwealth
    Source Of Reference:

    Senegal

    Senegal
    Regional group
    Africa Group
    Political group
    AU
    OIC
    OIF
    Issue:
    • Sexual exploitation / slavery
    • International human rights instruments
    Type:
    Recommendation
    Session:
    24th session, January 2016
    Status:
    Accepted
    Contents:
    Ratify the Convention on the Rights of the Child, in particular its OP on the sale of children.
  • State Under Review:

    Singapore

    Singapore
    Regional group
    Asia-Pacific Group
    Political group
    ASEAN
    Commonwealth
    Source Of Reference:

    Norway

    Norway
    Regional group
    WEOG
    Issue:
    • Criminal laws on same-sex sexual practices
    Type:
    Recommendation
    Session:
    24th session, January 2016
    Status:
    Unclear Response
    Contents:
    Abolish section 377 A of the Penal Code.
    Explanation
    Noted. Section 377 A of the Penal Code on sodomy, which was inherited during the colonial history of Singapore, was not proactively enforced. Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex persons were free to lead their lives. Parliament decided after an intense debate in 2007 to retain this law. The Prime Minister noted at that time that it was better to accept the legal untidiness and ambiguity of leaving the law as it was, and it would not be wise to force this issue by settling it one way or the other. Singapore firmly opposed discrimination and harassment, and did not discriminate against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex applicants to the civil service. The approach was "to live and let live", preserve the common space for all communities, and let society evolve gradually and decide collectively.
    Implementation
    Stakeholder Summary:
    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 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.
  • State Under Review:

    Singapore

    Singapore
    Regional group
    Asia-Pacific Group
    Political group
    ASEAN
    Commonwealth
    Source Of Reference:

    Colombia

    Colombia
    Regional group
    GRULAC
    Political group
    OAS
    OEI
    ACS
    Issue:
    • Marital rape
    • Violence against women / gender-based violence
    • Sexual violence
    • Domestic violence
    Type:
    Recommendation
    Session:
    24th session, January 2016
    Status:
    Partially Accepted
    Contents:
    Continue working on the legislation on domestic violence crimes, particularly regarding the inclusion of a definition of sexual violence that also encompasses any non-consented sexual act within marriage
    Explanation
    There is a robust legislative framework that criminalises acts of domestic violence and acts of violence against women, under the Women's Charter, the Children and Young Persons Act and the Penal Code. We are also actively working towards repealing marital rape immunity.
    Implementation
    National Report:
    Para 20) Enhancing protection against violence. Singapore has robust legislation criminalising violence under the Women’s Charter, the CYPA, the Protection from Harassment Act (POHA), and the Penal Code. With effect from January 2020, we fully repealed marital immunity for rape and expanded the definition of rape to cover nonconsensual oral and anal penetration by the penis. We also enhanced penalties for a range of offences committed against persons vulnerable to harm, including children, domestic helpers, persons in intimate relationships with offenders, and persons with disabilities whose mental or physical disabilities render them substantially unable to protect themselves from abuse.
    Para 25) The Penal Code was amended in 2019 to double the maximum punishment for persons convicted of causing …, sexual offences, … against FDWs [Foreign Domestic Workers].
  • State Under Review:

    Singapore

    Singapore
    Regional group
    Asia-Pacific Group
    Political group
    ASEAN
    Commonwealth
    Source Of Reference:

    Timor-Leste

    Timor-Leste
    Regional group
    Asia-Pacific Group
    Issue:
    • Gender equality
    Type:
    Recommendation
    Session:
    24th session, January 2016
    Status:
    Accepted
    Contents:
    Take further steps to improve equality between women and men.
    Implementation
    National Report:
    Para 17) Increasing participation. Singapore actively supports women’s participation in politics and in public service. In 2017, Singapore’s first female President, Halimah Yacob, took office. In 2020, 28 out of 95 Members of Parliament (29%) were women, greater than the Inter-Parliamentary Union’s world average of 24.5%. Currently, we have nine women out of 37 political office-holders. Women also make up 53% of the Public Service (as of 2019). The Council for Board Diversity, formed in January 2019, promotes greater representation of women on boards of listed companies, statutory boards, and non-profit organisations.
    Para 18) Support for women in the society and family. Many women continue to shoulder many household and caregiving responsibilities. We have continued to enhance measures to promote sharing of domestic and family responsibilities, such as flexible work arrangements (FWAs). From 2018 to 2020, we committed more than S$200 million (US$152 million) in financial grants and developed practical guides to support employers in implementing and sustaining FWAs. Since 2017, fathers have enjoyed two weeks of paid paternity leave and can share up to four weeks of their spouses’ maternity leave. Under the national movement, “Dads for Life”, we have rolled out initiatives, such as “Dads@School”, to promote active fathering. Since 2017, single mothers also enjoy the same infant care and childcare subsidies and maternity leave as married mothers.
    Para 122) … Taking stock of our progress against international measures, Singapore ranks: … (f) 12th for gender equality in the 2019 UN Gender Inequality Index.

    Stakeholder Summary:
    Para 107) MARUAH stated that women in Singapore were still under-represented politically and in the workforce, and recommended that the Government actively push for gender parity.
    Para 108) JS4 stated that Singapore did not have any policies that prohibited gender-based discrimination at the workplace.
    Para 109) JS6 stated that women were paid less than men for similar work performed, and that sectors where women were concentrated were often lowly-paid. Gender discrimination and the gender wage gap affected women’s retirement savings.
  • State Under Review:

    Singapore

    Singapore
    Regional group
    Asia-Pacific Group
    Political group
    ASEAN
    Commonwealth
    Source Of Reference:

    Sri Lanka

    Sri Lanka
    Regional group
    Asia-Pacific Group
    Political group
    Commonwealth
    Issue:
    • Trafficking in women and / or girls
    Type:
    Recommendation
    Session:
    24th session, January 2016
    Status:
    Accepted
    Contents:
    Continue efforts to combat human trafficking and to protect victims of such crimes, especially women and children.
    Implementation
    UN Compilation:
    Para 45) CEDAW remained concerned that the State continued to be a destination and transit country for trafficking in women and girls for purposes of sexual and labour exploitation.
  • State Under Review:

    Singapore

    Singapore
    Regional group
    Asia-Pacific Group
    Political group
    ASEAN
    Commonwealth
    Source Of Reference:

    Stakeholder Summary

    Issue:
    • HIV and AIDS
    Type:
    Review Documentation
    Session:
    24th session, January 2016
    Status:
    Reference Addressed
    Contents:
    JS3 noted that Singapore continues to deport and ban people living with HIV/AIDS. [Para 39]
  • State Under Review:

    Singapore

    Singapore
    Regional group
    Asia-Pacific Group
    Political group
    ASEAN
    Commonwealth
    Source Of Reference:

    UN Compilation

    Issue:
    • Gender equality
    Type:
    Review Documentation
    Session:
    24th session, January 2016
    Status:
    Neglected
    Contents:
    The CEDAW was particularly concerned that, despite the legal equality accorded to spouses, discriminatory traditional cultural attitudes that continued to utilize the "head of the household" concept, assigning that role to men, persisted. It called upon Singapore to eliminate patriarchal attitudes and stereotypes that discriminate against women. [Para 15]
  • State Under Review:

    Singapore

    Singapore
    Regional group
    Asia-Pacific Group
    Political group
    ASEAN
    Commonwealth
    Source Of Reference:

    UN Compilation

    Issue:
    • Marginalized groups of women
    • Women's and / or girls' rights
    • HIV and AIDS
    Type:
    Review Documentation
    Session:
    24th session, January 2016
    Status:
    Reference Addressed
    Contents:
    The CEDAW encouraged Singapore to repeal the law requiring a work-permit holder, including foreign domestic workers, to be deported on grounds of pregnancy or the diagnosis of sexually transmitted diseases such as HIV/AIDS. Within the Committee's follow-up framework, Singapore reported that such laws were necessary to protect the population. In 2014, the Committee requested follow-up information on the actions taken to repeal the law. [Para 40]
  • State Under Review:

    Singapore

    Singapore
    Regional group
    Asia-Pacific Group
    Political group
    ASEAN
    Commonwealth
    Source Of Reference:

    National Report

    Issue:
    • Sexual abuse
    • Sexual exploitation / slavery
    Type:
    Review Documentation
    Session:
    38th Session, May 2021
    Status:
    N/A
    Contents:
    Strengthening legislation to protect children and youth. Children’s rights and protections are contained in the Children and Young Persons Act (CYPA), the Women’s Charter and the Penal Code. We amended the Penal Code in 2019 to strengthen protection for children and youths against sexual exploitation. In particular, we introduced:
    (a) Offences to criminalise the production, distribution, advertising, and
    possession of child abuse material;
    (b) Offences to criminalise sexual communication with or sexual activity in front
    of a minor;
    (c) An offence relating to exploitative sexual activity with minors from 16 to 18
    years of age; and
    (d) Enhanced penalties for certain offences committed against children below 14
    years of age. [Para 10]
  • State Under Review:

    Singapore

    Singapore
    Regional group
    Asia-Pacific Group
    Political group
    ASEAN
    Commonwealth
    Source Of Reference:

    UN Compilation

    Issue:
    • Polygamy
    Type:
    Review Documentation
    Session:
    38th Session, May 2021
    Status:
    Not Followed up with a Recommendation
    Contents:
    CEDAW recommended that the State intensify its efforts to discourage and prohibit polygamy. [Para 56]
  • State Under Review:

    Singapore

    Singapore
    Regional group
    Asia-Pacific Group
    Political group
    ASEAN
    Commonwealth
    Source Of Reference:

    Stakeholder Summary

    Issue:
    • Early marriage
    Type:
    Review Documentation
    Session:
    38th Session, May 2021
    Status:
    Not Followed up with a Recommendation
    Contents:
    JS6 stated that the minimum legal age for marriage was 18 years, under the Administration of Muslim Law Act, but religious officials appointed to solemnise Muslim marriages could allow marriages with younger girls if they had attained puberty. It recommended that the Government disallow marriage for girls below the age of 18 in all circumstances. [Para 69]
  • State Under Review:

    Singapore

    Singapore
    Regional group
    Asia-Pacific Group
    Political group
    ASEAN
    Commonwealth
    Source Of Reference:

    UN Compilation

    Issue:
    • International human rights instruments
    • Women's and / or girls' rights
    Type:
    Review Documentation
    Session:
    38th Session, May 2021
    Status:
    Reference Addressed
    Contents:
    CEDAW recommended that the State withdraw its remaining reservations to articles 2, 11 and 16 within a clear time frame. [Para 6]
  • State Under Review:

    Singapore

    Singapore
    Regional group
    Asia-Pacific Group
    Political group
    ASEAN
    Commonwealth
    Source Of Reference:

    Moldova

    Moldova
    Regional group
    EEG
    Political group
    CIS
    OIF
    Issue:
    • Women's and / or girls' rights
    • Women's participation
    Type:
    Recommendation
    Session:
    11th session, May 2011
    Status:
    Accepted
    Contents:
    Continue its efforts to increase the representation of women at senior levels within the public administration, including the diplomatic service, judiciary and educational institutions, as well as the private sector
    Implementation
    National Report:
    Para 53) Women are better represented and occupy important positions in the public, corporate and civil society sectors today, although representation at the higher corporate levels can be further improved. The Public Service tries to lead the way on this front. As of 2014, women constituted 56.7% of the Civil Service. 6 of the 23 Permanent Secretaries and 9 of the 32 Deputy Secretaries were women. Women made up 23% of the judges in the Supreme Court, and 48%, 69% and 48% of the total number of judicial officers in the State Courts, Family Justice Courts and Supreme Court respectively. Half of the officers in the Foreign Service are women. We now have many inspiring examples of women in leadership positions in public life. Singapore's first female Speaker of Parliament, Madam Halimah Yacob, was appointed in January 2013. There are currently one female Minister, four female Senior Ministers of State, and one female Parliamentary Secretary in the Government. 2 out of our 5 mayors are women.
  • State Under Review:

    Singapore

    Singapore
    Regional group
    Asia-Pacific Group
    Political group
    ASEAN
    Commonwealth
    Source Of Reference:

    Indonesia

    Indonesia
    Regional group
    Asia-Pacific Group
    Political group
    ASEAN
    OIC
    Issue:
    • International human rights instruments
    Type:
    Recommendation
    Session:
    38th Session, May 2021
    Status:
    Unclear Response
    Contents:
    Ratify the ICCPR.
    Explanation
    Noted. We are unable to commit to ratifying any further treaties at this point. While Singapore may not be party to a particular human rights treaty yet, our outcomes are already fully or largely in compliance with its objectives.
  • State Under Review:

    Singapore

    Singapore
    Regional group
    Asia-Pacific Group
    Political group
    ASEAN
    Commonwealth
    Source Of Reference:

    Nepal

    Nepal
    Regional group
    Asia-Pacific Group
    Issue:
    • International human rights instruments
    Type:
    Recommendation
    Session:
    38th Session, May 2021
    Status:
    Accepted
    Contents:
    Consider ratifying the ICCPR and the ICESCR.
    Explanation
    Singapore takes our treaty obligations seriously and we have a process under our IMC-HR to actively review our ability to ratify additional human rights treaties.
  • State Under Review:

    Singapore

    Singapore
    Regional group
    Asia-Pacific Group
    Political group
    ASEAN
    Commonwealth
    Source Of Reference:

    Latvia

    Latvia
    Regional group
    EEG
    Political group
    EU
    Issue:
    • Marital rape
    • Domestic violence
    Type:
    Recommendation
    Session:
    38th Session, May 2021
    Status:
    Accepted
    Contents:
    Criminalise domestic violence and marital rape.
    Explanation
    Singapore also has robust legislation criminalising domestic violence under the Women’s Charter and the Penal Code.


  • State Under Review:

    Singapore

    Singapore
    Regional group
    Asia-Pacific Group
    Political group
    ASEAN
    Commonwealth
    Source Of Reference:

    Philippines

    Philippines
    Regional group
    Asia-Pacific Group
    Political group
    ASEAN
    Issue:
    • Trafficking in women and / or girls
    Type:
    Recommendation
    Session:
    38th Session, May 2021
    Status:
    Accepted
    Contents:
    Continue to ensure the provision of adequate protection and support for victims of trafficking in persons, especially women and children.
    Explanation
    Singapore enacted the Prevention of Human Trafficking Act (PHTA) in 2015 to specifically combat trafficking in persons (TIP). The definition of TIP in the Act is aligned to that under the UN TIP Protocol.
  • State Under Review:

    Singapore

    Singapore
    Regional group
    Asia-Pacific Group
    Political group
    ASEAN
    Commonwealth
    Source Of Reference:

    Bulgaria

    Bulgaria
    Regional group
    EEG
    Political group
    EU
    OIF
    Issue:
    • Gender equality
    Type:
    Recommendation
    Session:
    38th Session, May 2021
    Status:
    Accepted
    Contents:
    Take further measures to encourage women and girls to choose contemporary fields of study and professional careers, and to eliminate traditional stereotypes and administrative obstacles, which may deter girls from enrolling in engineering, electronics, telecommunications and information technology.
    Explanation
    Singapore’s approach to gender equality is founded on the principle of meritocracy where women in Singapore participate fully and equally in all spheres of life and at all levels. In 2017, Singapore’s first female President, Halimah Yacob, was elected into office.
  • State Under Review:

    Singapore

    Singapore
    Regional group
    Asia-Pacific Group
    Political group
    ASEAN
    Commonwealth
    Source Of Reference:

    Cameroon

    Cameroon
    Regional group
    Africa Group
    Political group
    AU
    OIC
    OIF
    Commonwealth
    Issue:
    • Women's and / or girls' rights
    Type:
    Recommendation
    Session:
    38th Session, May 2021
    Status:
    Accepted
    Contents:
    Continue to enhance protection for women against violence.
    Explanation
    Singapore’s approach to gender equality is founded on the principle of meritocracy where women in Singapore participate fully and equally in all spheres of life and at all levels. In 2017, Singapore’s first female President, Halimah Yacob, was elected into office.
  • State Under Review:

    Singapore

    Singapore
    Regional group
    Asia-Pacific Group
    Political group
    ASEAN
    Commonwealth
    Source Of Reference:

    Uruguay

    Uruguay
    Regional group
    GRULAC
    Political group
    OAS
    OEI
    Issue:
    • Criminal laws on same-sex sexual practices
    Type:
    Recommendation
    Session:
    38th Session, May 2021
    Status:
    Unclear Response
    Contents:
    Strengthen its commitment to the principle of non-discrimination by repealing Section 377A of the Penal Code to fully decriminalize consensual sexual relations between two adults of the same sex.
    Explanation
    Noted. Although Section 377A of the Penal Code remains in our statute books, it is not enforced. All Singapore citizens, regardless of their sexual orientation, are free to pursue their activities in their private space. We firmly oppose discrimination and harassment and have laws to protect all our citizens from such conduct. We will continue to manage the issue of LGBT rights in a sensitive and pragmatic way, so as to protect the vulnerable, uphold the family and preserve the common space for the diverse communities in Singapore.

  • State Under Review:

    Singapore

    Singapore
    Regional group
    Asia-Pacific Group
    Political group
    ASEAN
    Commonwealth
    Source Of Reference:

    Thailand

    Thailand
    Regional group
    Asia-Pacific Group
    Political group
    ASEAN
    Issue:
    • International human rights instruments
    Type:
    Recommendation
    Session:
    11th session, May 2011
    Status:
    Partially Accepted
    Contents:
    Become a party to... OP-CRPD and set a specific time frame for the ratification process.
  • State Under Review:

    Singapore

    Singapore
    Regional group
    Asia-Pacific Group
    Political group
    ASEAN
    Commonwealth
    Source Of Reference:

    Afghanistan

    Afghanistan
    Regional group
    Asia-Pacific Group
    Political group
    OIC
    Issue:
    • Sexual exploitation / slavery
    • International human rights instruments
    Type:
    Recommendation
    Session:
    11th session, May 2011
    Status:
    Partially Accepted
    Contents:
    Accede to OP-CRC-SC.
    Implementation
    National Report:
    Para 60) Singapore is fully committed to our obligations under the CRC. We are currently considering accession to the OP-CRC-SC. Like the other treaties we accede to, we want to ensure that necessary legislation and resources are in place at the time of accession so that our obligations can be implemented immediately.
  • State Under Review:

    Singapore

    Singapore
    Regional group
    Asia-Pacific Group
    Political group
    ASEAN
    Commonwealth
    Source Of Reference:

    National Report

    Issue:
    • Gender equality
    Type:
    Review Documentation
    Session:
    11th session, May 2011
    Status:
    N/A
    Contents:
    "The Fatwa Committee regularly discusses points of Muslim law and makes
    recommendations on new measures, including gender equality. According to a fatwa
    (religious ruling) issued in August 2006, Muslim women can be appointed to the Appeal
    Board, which hears appeals on Syariah Court decisions. Muslim women have since been
    appointed to the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore or Majlis Ugama Islam Singapura
    (MUIS) and the Appeal Board. The current Registrar of the Syariah Court is a woman. [Para 66]"