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Summary: This report extracts mentions of children's rights issues in the Concluding Observations of all UN Treaty Bodies and their follow-up procedures. This does not include the Concluding Observations of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child which are available here: http://www.crin.org/resources/treaties/index.asp Scroll to: _____________________________________________ _____________________________________________ UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights _____________________________________________ _____________________________________________ UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women CEDAW/C/SGP/CO/4 Last reported: 22 July 2011 Discriminatory laws: The Committee notes with appreciation the efforts of the State party through the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS) to review and revise discriminatory legislation and align Syariah law with civil law, in particular, the amendments to the Administration of Muslim Law Act in 2008, raising the minimum age of Muslim marriage for both parties from 16 to 18 years old, the fatwa on joint tenancy and fatwa on Central Provident Fund nominations, updated in 2010. It remains deeply concerned, however, at the preservation of dual marriage regime that applies in the State party and the discriminatory provisions that persist in the laws relating to marriage, divorce and nationality that deny women equal rights with men. It is also concerned at the lack of free choice of adjudication between Syariah Court and family court. (Paragraph 15) The Committee calls upon the State party to: (a) Pursue without delay its law review process with the view to harmonising its domestic legislation with its obligations under the Convention within a clear time frame; (b) Enhance its law reform through partnership and collaboration with male and female religious leaders, lawyers and civil society organisations including women's non-governmental organizations; and (c) Provide for equal choice of adjudication between Syariah and family courts. (Paragraph 16) Trafficking: While welcoming the establishment in March 2011 of an inter-agency Taskforce on Trafficking in Persons, and the adoption of the definition of "trafficking in persons" as defined in the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, supplementing the United Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, the Committee remains concerned at the continuing prevalence of trafficking in women and girls in the country about the alleged criminalization and deportation of trafficked women and girls as immigration offenders, as well as low reporting rate. The Committee is also concerned at the lack of a comprehensive legal framework to combat against trafficking and provide protection for victims. (Paragraph 25) The Committee calls upon the State party to: (a) Ratify the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, especially Women and Children, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime; (b) Enact a specialised legislation against trafficking in persons including the internationally recognised definition of human trafficking in order to better identify victims of trafficking and prosecute traffickers; (c) Strengthen its measures to combat all forms of trafficking in women and children, including through increased international, regional and bilateral cooperation with countries of origin and transit, in line with article 6 of the Convention, as well as through trainings to the judiciary, law enforcement officials, border guards, social workers in the country; and (d) Ensure the prosecution and punishment of individuals involved in trafficking and the protection and rehabilitation of victims of trafficking. (Paragraph 26) -------------------------------------------------- UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW/C/SGP/CO/3) Last reported: 1 August 2007 Concerns raised: Trafficking: The Committee expresses concern about the narrow definition of trafficking used by the State party. It was further concerned that women and girls who have been trafficked may be punished for violating immigration laws and that they are treated as offenders rather than victims. The Committee recommends that the State party ratify the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, especially Women and Children supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime. It encouraged the State party to review its current legal and policy measures in the light of the definition of trafficking contained in the Protocol. This, it said, would help to improve identification of victims of trafficking and prosecute traffickers. The Committee urged the State party to ensure that women and girl victims of trafficking are not punished for violations of immigration laws and are provided with adequate support to testify against their traffickers as well as access to adequate assistance and remedies. (Paragraphs 21, 22) _____________________________________________ UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination _____________________________________________ UN Committee on Migrant Workers _____________________________________________ UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities _____________________________________________
Please note that the language may have been edited in places for the purposes of clarity.
Concluding Observations published: 27 July 2011
Concluding Observations published: 10 August 2007