Submitted by basma on
This report is part of CRIN's access to justice for children project, looking at the status of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) in national law, the status of children involved in legal proceedings, the legal means to challenge violations of children’s rights and the practical considerations involved in challenging violations.
The CRC has not been fully incorporated into Singapore law and cannot be directly enforced in courts, though it has been referred to in some decisions. Children through their representatives can bring civil cases, initiate judicial review proceedings to challenge violations of their constitutional rights and administrative actions, as well as commence private prosecution. There are, however, limitations on children's access to justice. In particular, state-funded legal aid is only available in certain civil and family law cases, NGOs do not have legal standing to bring cases to court, and Singapore lacks an independent mechanism to receive and independently investigate complaints on the violations of the rights of children.
