{"id":8279,"date":"2013-02-22T02:52:27","date_gmt":"2013-02-22T09:52:27","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/humanium.org\/en\/?page_id=8279"},"modified":"2025-12-06T16:10:32","modified_gmt":"2025-12-06T16:10:32","slug":"singapore","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/singapore\/","title":{"rendered":"Children of Singapore"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Realizing Children&#8217;s Rights in&nbsp;Singapore<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"wp-block-image is-style-rounded\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"400\" height=\"400\" src=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Shutterstock_210889156.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-58346\" style=\"width:258px;height:258px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Shutterstock_210889156.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Shutterstock_210889156-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Shutterstock_210889156-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Shutterstock_210889156-230x230.jpg 230w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Shutterstock_210889156-350x350.jpg 350w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"wp-block-image is-style-rounded\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"400\" height=\"400\" src=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Shutterstock_1429509587.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-58347\" style=\"width:257px;height:257px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Shutterstock_1429509587.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Shutterstock_1429509587-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Shutterstock_1429509587-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Shutterstock_1429509587-230x230.jpg 230w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Shutterstock_1429509587-350x350.jpg 350w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Children in Singapore are protected by a comprehensive system of law that ensures fundamental rights and adequate standards of living. However, several overly restrictive criminal laws and non-inclusive and discriminatory regulations put children at risk. The main areas that require a change of direction to better implement the rights of Singaporean children include child labor, juvenile justice, freedom of expression, sexual orientation, and gender identity.&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/maps\/embed?pb=!1m18!1m12!1m3!1d510562.45330268116!2d103.56405349164459!3d1.313984343024645!2m3!1f0!2f0!3f0!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!3m3!1m2!1s0x31da11238a8b9375%3A0x887869cf52abf5c4!2sSingapore!5e0!3m2!1sen!2sin!4v1673289535988!5m2!1sen!2sin\" width=\"600\" height=\"450\" style=\"border:0;\" allowfullscreen=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\"><\/iframe>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><strong>Population:<\/strong> 5.9 million<strong><br>Pop. ages 0-14:<\/strong> 12.41%<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><strong>Life expectancy:<\/strong> 83.93 years<strong><br>Under-5 mortality rate:<\/strong>&nbsp;1.85 \u2030<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Singapore at a glance<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Singapore is a city-state consisting of one main island and other smaller islands, located at the southern end of the Malacca Peninsula. While being one of the richest states in the world, its strategic location at the mouth of the Strait of Malacca has made the country one of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/asia-pacific\/\">Asia<\/a>&#8216;s major trading centers. Given its small territory and high population, it is one of the most densely populated countries on the planet. Officially, the urbanization rate is 100% but more rural areas can be found in the northern part and the smaller islands (World Population Review, 2022).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/china\/\">Chinese<\/a> (74.3%) make up the majority of the resident population, followed by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/malaysia\/\">Malays<\/a> (13.5%) and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/india\/\">Indians<\/a> (9%), but to these must be added 1,642,000 non-residents, workers or students with temporary permits, who together make up 29% of the total population (World Population Review, 2022). These numbers and a multi-ethnic culture have meant that many <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/children-and-religions\/\">religions<\/a> are practiced in Singapore, those with the most adherents being Buddhism (31%), Christianity (19%), Islam (15.5%), Taoism (9%) and Hinduism (5%), while 20% are non-religious (World Population Review, 2022).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>From a political point of view, Singapore is a parliamentary republic, with a unicameral legislative structure elected every five years. In spite of a liberal economic system and a political-institutional structure that is considered not very corrupt, Singapore has a political regime that severely restricts the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/fundamental-rights\/freedom\/#:~:text=Every%20child%20has%20the%20right,them%20from%20expressing%20themselves%20freely.\">freedoms<\/a> of expression, association and demonstration and the full implementation of other important <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/child-rights\/#:~:text=Children's%20rights%20recognize%20fundamental%20guarantees,and%20bad%20treatments%2C%20etc.)\">rights<\/a> (Human Rights Watch, 2022).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Status of children\u2019s rights<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/fr\/wp-admin\/post.php?post=22284&amp;action=edit#_ftn1\"><strong>[1]<\/strong><\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"680\" src=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/shutterstock_34061023-1024x680.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-58348\" style=\"width:403px;height:266px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/shutterstock_34061023-1024x680.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/shutterstock_34061023-300x199.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/shutterstock_34061023-768x510.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/shutterstock_34061023-1536x1020.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/shutterstock_34061023-2048x1360.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/shutterstock_34061023-830x551.jpg 830w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/shutterstock_34061023-230x153.jpg 230w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/shutterstock_34061023-350x232.jpg 350w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/shutterstock_34061023-480x319.jpg 480w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/shutterstock_34061023-272x182.jpg 272w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Formal protection of children in Singapore began with the 1927 Children\u2019s Ordinance whose aim was \u201cto afford children protection against cruelty\u201d (Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports, 2005). In June 1946, following the Second World War, Singapore\u2019s first Social Welfare Department was established to consider various areas of social policy. From this mandate came the enactment in 1949 of the much more comprehensive Children and Young Persons Ordinance, the precursor of our present-day legislation (Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports, 2005).&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Nowadays the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports (MCYS) bears the statutory <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/protection\/\">responsibility to protect<\/a> children from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/abuse\/\">abuse<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/abuse\/\">neglect,<\/a> with duties spelled out in the current Children and Young Persons Act (CYPA). The CYPA provides legal <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/protection\/\">protection<\/a> for children below the age of fourteen, as well as for young persons aged fourteen and below sixteen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In October 1995, by acceding to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/convention\/\">United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC),<\/a> Singapore made a commitment to meet the minimum standards in the provision of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/health\/\">health care<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/right-to-education\/\">education<\/a>, and legal and social services for children and as of today, it is respecting this mandate. In many areas, provisions for children were already well above these minimum standards. The principle, \u201cin the best interests of the child\u201d has since guided Singapore\u2019s policies and service provision for children and young persons, including the area of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/protection\/\">child protection<\/a> (Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports, 2005).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Singapore has ratified or acceded to the following international agreements related to human rights:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/convention\/\">Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC),<\/a> Optional Protocol to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/convention\/\">CRC<\/a> on the involvement of children in armed conflict in 2008, International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, as of 2022, Singapore has not ratified the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the Second Optional Protocol on the ICCPR aiming at the abolition of the death penalty, the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, or the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (Human Rights Watch, 2022).&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Addressing the needs of children<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Right to education&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/shutterstock_1145356856-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-58350\" style=\"width:336px;height:224px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/shutterstock_1145356856-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/shutterstock_1145356856-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/shutterstock_1145356856-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/shutterstock_1145356856-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/shutterstock_1145356856-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/shutterstock_1145356856-830x553.jpg 830w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/shutterstock_1145356856-230x153.jpg 230w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/shutterstock_1145356856-350x233.jpg 350w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/shutterstock_1145356856-480x320.jpg 480w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/shutterstock_1145356856-272x182.jpg 272w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Beginning in 2003, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/right-to-education\/\">education<\/a> became compulsory for all children born after January 1, 1996. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/right-to-education\/\">Education<\/a> in Singapore is not free, but the government heavily subsidizes school fees.For this reason, Singapore\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/right-to-education\/\">education<\/a> system is considered one of the best in the region. In fact, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/right-to-education\/\">education<\/a> facilities in Singapore have improved dramatically since independence. The restructuring of primary and secondary <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/right-to-education\/\">education<\/a>, combined with the introduction of a system of vocational training, allows children to continue their <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/right-to-education\/\">education<\/a> until they are sixteen years old.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Rig<\/strong><strong>h<\/strong><strong>t to freedom<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The Government of Singapore uses overly restrictive criminal laws and civil defamation suits to harass and prosecute critical voices, including activists, bloggers, and journalists (Human Rights Watch, 2022).&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/convention\/\">Human rights<\/a> defenders, including children, are not protected against police abuses and are at severe risk of being sentenced for taking part in protests or for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/fundamental-rights\/freedom\/#:~:text=Every%20child%20has%20the%20right,them%20from%20expressing%20themselves%20freely.\">expressing<\/a> critical political views.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Although Singapore has a developed social welfare system to address children\u2019s needs, there are no provisions to ensure the right of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/fundamental-rights\/freedom\/#:~:text=Every%20child%20has%20the%20right,them%20from%20expressing%20themselves%20freely.\">child to express<\/a> his views and opinions in protective proceedings (Yale University, 2016). Additionally, in schools, children do not have the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/fundamental-rights\/freedom\/#:~:text=Every%20child%20has%20the%20right,them%20from%20expressing%20themselves%20freely.\">right to express their opinions<\/a>. The government uses discipline, which does not encourage children <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/fundamental-rights\/freedom\/#:~:text=Every%20child%20has%20the%20right,them%20from%20expressing%20themselves%20freely.\">to express<\/a> their own ideas but rather reinforces their feeling of being constantly bullied.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Risk factors \u2192 Country-specific challenges&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Violence<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>In schools, corporal punishment is practiced \u2013 especially for boys. This type of practice is difficult to control and measure. The law on the regulation of schools allows physical abuse on the palms of the hands or on the buttocks to correct behavior, notably for boys. These types of corporal punishment are used in centers for detoxification, detention centers, and military centers, where all boys are supposed to be trained for two years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Unfortunately, some forms of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/discrimination\/\">discrimination<\/a> persist, especially against girls, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/children-with-disabilities\/\">children with disabilities,<\/a> and the non-citizens of Singapore. Data on children with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/children-with-disabilities\/\">disabilities<\/a> are very limited and difficult to access. The situation of disabled children is particularly concerning, especially for those older than six years old, since compulsory <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/right-to-education\/\">education<\/a> does not seem to apply to them any more than it does for immigrant children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Child labour<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The Government of Singapore ratified ILO Convention No. 182, Worst Forms of Child Labor, on June 14, 2001, but has not ratified ILO Convention No. 138, Minimum Age for Admission to Employment (The United States Trade Representative, 2022).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In fact, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/child-labour\/\">child labour<\/a> remains a major scourge throughout Southeast Asia. Indeed, even if statistical data on economic activity for children under the age of fifteen is unavailable as Singapore does not collect such information, it is well established that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/child-labour\/\">child labour<\/a> is part of the Singaporean economy (The United States Trade Representative, 2022).&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/shutterstock_1195530328-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-58349\" style=\"width:343px;height:229px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/shutterstock_1195530328-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/shutterstock_1195530328-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/shutterstock_1195530328-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/shutterstock_1195530328-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/shutterstock_1195530328-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/shutterstock_1195530328-830x553.jpg 830w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/shutterstock_1195530328-230x153.jpg 230w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/shutterstock_1195530328-350x233.jpg 350w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/shutterstock_1195530328-480x320.jpg 480w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/shutterstock_1195530328-272x182.jpg 272w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Under the Employment Act specifically, children may perform light work at age twelve. Children under the age of fourteen may only be employed in an industrial undertaking if it is a family-operated business, while youth between the ages of fourteen and sixteen can work in an industrial undertaking if they possess a medical certificate certifying their fitness for employment (The United States Trade Representative, 2022). Slavery and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/child-labour\/\">forced labour<\/a> are prohibited under Singapore\u2019s Constitution as well as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/child-trafficking\/#:~:text=Use%20of%20Children,to%20parents%20waiting%20to%20adopt.\">trafficking in children<\/a> are prohibited by the Children and Young Persons Act and Women\u2019s Charter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Sexual orientation and gender identity<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/convention\/\">rights<\/a> of LGBTQ+ people in Singapore are severely restricted. In fact, Singapore is one of nine countries in Asia &#8211; alongside <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/bangladesh\/\">Bangladesh<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/bhutan\/\">Bhutan<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/maldives\/\">Maldives<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/pakistan\/\">Pakistan<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/sri-lanka\/\">Sri Lanka<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/brunei\/\">Brunei<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/malaysia\/\">Malaysia<\/a> and Myanmar &#8211; that criminalizes male-to-male <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/childrens-right-to-identity-sexual-orientation-gender-identity-and-gender-expression-sogie\/#:~:text=We%20at%20Humanium%20support%20LGBTIQ%2B,and%20their%20uniqueness%20is%20recognized.\">sexual<\/a> relations. Female-to-female sex is not criminalized but at the same time restricted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There are no legal protections against <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/discrimination\/\">discrimination<\/a> on the basis of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/childrens-right-to-identity-sexual-orientation-gender-identity-and-gender-expression-sogie\/#:~:text=We%20at%20Humanium%20support%20LGBTIQ%2B,and%20their%20uniqueness%20is%20recognized.\">sexual orientation<\/a> or gender identity. Singapore precludes LGBTQ+ groups from registering and operating legally (Human Rights Watch, 2022).Teenagers part of the LGBTQ community live in a difficult environment as most families do not accept their <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/childrens-right-to-identity-sexual-orientation-gender-identity-and-gender-expression-sogie\/#:~:text=We%20at%20Humanium%20support%20LGBTIQ%2B,and%20their%20uniqueness%20is%20recognized.\">sexual orientation<\/a> and kick them out of their homes (Ministry of Social and Family Development, 2021).&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Minister for Social and Family Development declared that the current options for young and vulnerable teens kicked out of their homes for reasons such as their <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/childrens-right-to-identity-sexual-orientation-gender-identity-and-gender-expression-sogie\/#:~:text=We%20at%20Humanium%20support%20LGBTIQ%2B,and%20their%20uniqueness%20is%20recognized.\">sexual orientation<\/a> or gender identity are shelters run by LGBTQ+ community groups to which the Government is considering extending financial support (Ministry of Social and Family Development, 2021). Despite the good intentions, the reality is that members of all ages belonging to the LGBTQ community face major <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/discrimination\/\">discrimination<\/a> (Human Rights Watch, 2022).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Children and justice<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>In Singapore, persons under the age of eighteen convicted of an offense cannot be sentenced to capital punishment but may be <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/justice-of-children\/\">sentenced<\/a> to corporal punishment and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/detained-children\/\">life imprisonment<\/a>. Indeed, the use of corporal punishment is a common accessory penalty (Human Rights Watch, 2022). Furthermore, corporal punishment is lawful as a sentence for juvenile offenders and for medically fit males ages sixteen to fifty, while caning is mandatory for a wide range of crimes. Particularly, children aged between seven and fifteen should be caned up to ten strokes with a light rattan, and older young people up to 24 strokes with a rattan up to 1.27 cm in diameter (CRIN, 2010).&nbsp; It is worthwhile to note that such caning constitutes torture under international law.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The main laws governing <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/justice-of-children\/\">juvenile justice<\/a> are the Children and Young Persons Act 1993, the Penal Code 1872 and the Criminal Procedure Code 2010(CRIN, 2010). The minimum age of criminal responsibility is set by the Penal Code at 7 and the Criminal Procedure Code defines a juvenile as from 7 to 15 (CRIN, 2010).&nbsp; Persons aged 16-17 are tried as adults.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Moreover, while capital punishment is unlawful for child offenders, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/justice-of-children\/\">life imprisonment<\/a> is available also for persons under the age of eighteen. Specifically, children aged between seven and fifteen may <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/justice-of-children\/\">be sentenced<\/a> to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/detained-children\/\">life imprisonment<\/a> only in case of culpable homicide and attempted murder, and persons aged between 16 and17 for a wider range of crimes (CRIN, 2010).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em><strong>Written by Federica Versea<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em><strong>Internally proofread by Aditi Partha<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em><strong>Last updated on 22 August 2022<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Bibliography:<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\">CRIN. (2010). <em>Inhuman sentencing of children in Singapore<\/em>. Taken from CRIN &#8211; Child Rights International Network: https:\/\/archive.crin.org\/sites\/default\/files\/singapore_inhuman_sentencing.pdf accessed on 11 August 2022.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\">Human Rights Watch. (2022). <em>Singapore Events of 2021<\/em>. Taken from Human Rights Watch : <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hrw.org\/world-report\/2022\/country-chapters\/singapore%20\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/www.hrw.org\/world-report\/2022\/country-chapters\/singapore<\/a> accessed on 10 August 2022.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\">Human Rights Watch. (2022). <em>Human Rights Watch<\/em>. Taken from Singapore Events of 2021: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hrw.org\/world-report\/2022\/country-chapters\/singapore%20\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/www.hrw.org\/world-report\/2022\/country-chapters\/singapore<\/a> on 10 August 2022.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\">Human Rights Watch. (2022). <em>Singapore 2021 Human Rights Report<\/em>. Taken from Human Rights Watch: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.state.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/313615_SINGAPORE-2021-HUMAN-RIGHTS-REPORT.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/www.state.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/313615_SINGAPORE-2021-HUMAN-RIGHTS-REPORT.pdf<\/a>&nbsp; accessed on 10 August 2022.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\">Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports. (2005). <em>Protecting Children in Singapore<\/em>. Taken from Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports: http:\/\/www.iccwtnispcanarc.org\/upload\/pdf\/7627407937Protecting%20Children%20in%20Singapore%20.pdf accessed on 12 August 2022.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\">Ministry of Social and Family Development. (2021). <em>Shelter For Teens Kicked Out Of Homes Due To Sexual Orientation Or Gender Identity<\/em>. Taken from Ministry of Social and Family Development: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.msf.gov.sg\/media-room\/Pages\/Shelter-for-Teens-Kicked-Out-of-Homes-Due-to-Sexual-Orientation-or-Gender-Identity.aspx%20\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/www.msf.gov.sg\/media-room\/Pages\/Shelter-for-Teens-Kicked-Out-of-Homes-Due-to-Sexual-Orientation-or-Gender-Identity.aspx<\/a> accessed on 9 August 2022.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\">The United States Trade Representative. (2022). <em>Laws Governing Exploitative Child Labor Report: Singapore<\/em>. Taken from The United States Trade Representative: https:\/\/ustr.gov\/archive\/assets\/Trade_Agreements\/Bilateral\/Singapore_FTA\/Reports\/asset_upload_file926_3208.pdf accessed on 9 August 2022.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\">World Population Review. (2022). <em>Singapore Population 2022<\/em>. Taken from World Population Review: https:\/\/worldpopulationreview.com\/countries\/singapore-population accessed on 20 August 2022.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\">Yale University. (2016). <em>Singapore<\/em>. Taken from Representing Children Worldwide: <a href=\"https:\/\/rcw.law.yale.edu\/jurisdiction-research\/singapore%20\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/rcw.law.yale.edu\/jurisdiction-research\/singapore<\/a> accessed on 20 August 2022.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\"><a href=\"#_ftnref1\">[1]<\/a> This article by no means purports to give a full or representative account of children\u2019s rights in Singapore; indeed, one of the many challenges is the scant updated information on Singaporean children, much of which is unreliable, not representative, outdated or simply non-existent.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Realizing Children&#8217;s Rights in&nbsp;Singapore Children in Singapore are protected by a comprehensive system of law that ensures fundamental rights and adequate standards of living. However, several overly restrictive criminal laws and non-inclusive and discriminatory regulations put children at risk. The main areas that require a change of direction to better implement the rights of Singaporean [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-8279","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v26.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Children of Singapore - Humanium<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Children in Singapore are protected by a comprehensive system of law that ensures fundamental rights and adequate standards of living\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/singapore\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Children of Singapore - 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