The Singapore Constitution provides men and women with equal political, economic and social rights. Comparisons of the past and present show that negative stereotypes of women have been eliminated over time, largely due to increased levels of education and better job opportunities for women.
Women in Singapore are fairly well protected within the family context and family matters are governed by two distinct legislative systems: the civil Women’s Charter and Islamic Sharia law.
The Women’s Charter governs all civil marriages in Singapore and fixes the minimum legal age of marriage to 18 years, with parental consent. Persons younger than 18 years who wish to marry must first apply for a Special Marriage License from the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports. The average age at first marriage has risen in recent years and early marriage is increasingly rare: a 2004 United Nations report estimated that only 1 per cent of girls between 15 and 19 years of age were married, divorced or widowed.
Following Sharia law, Singapore allows Muslim men to practise polygamy. Men may take as many as four wives, but only if the first wife consents and if permission has been granted by the religious authorities. A study by the US Department of State shows that in 2006 the authorities approved only 13 out of 44 applications for polygamous marriages.
Parental authority is exercised jointly. In the event of divorce, custody is granted according to the best interests of the children, although religious and customary practices may be considered. The Constitution was amended in 2004 to allow children born overseas to acquire Singapore citizenship by descent from their Singaporean mother. Previously, only fathers could pass Singapore citizenship to foreign-born children.
Differences between civil law and Sharia are most evident in matters related to inheritance. Traditionally, across all cultures in Singapore, sons inherited family assets while daughters were expected to marry into another family. This pattern is less common today, as civil law grants equal rights to male and female heirs. By contrast, Islamic law typically continues to favour male heirs.
The physical integrity of women in Singapore is, for the most part, well protected. Singapore law prohibits violence against women, including domestic violence and sexual or physical harassment. Rape is illegal in Singapore, but the law has not yet criminalised spousal rape (husbands who force their wives to have sexual intercourse can be prosecuted for assault). According to a report from the US Department of State, some 1 627 women applied for personal protection orders against their husbands in 2005.
Several recent government and NGO initiatives provide protection and assistance to abused women. For example, the Family Violence Dialogue Group – a consortium comprising the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Education, the National Council of Social Service, courts and prisons, and social service agencies – was established to facilitate dialogue between agencies, co-ordinate public education efforts and develop new areas for collaboration on family violence issues.
There is no evidence to suggest that female genital mutilation is a general practice. However, it is believed that some Muslim communities continue to carry out a symbolic ceremony for young girls, but do not perform any cutting or excision.
There is no evidence to suggest that Singapore is a country of concern in relation to missing women.
Legislation in Singapore supports financial independence for women. The Women’s Charter gives women access to land and access to property other than land. In the case of access to land, it is important to note that all citizens are constrained by the fact that the government has plans to use virtually every inch of the territory.
Women also have equal access to bank loans and other forms of credit, and the right to enter into legal contracts independently.
Women in Singapore enjoy a high level of civil liberty, with freedom of movement and freedom of dress.
CEDAW (Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women) (2004), Consideration of Reports Submitted by States Parties Under Article 18 of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women: Singapore, Third Periodic Report of States Parties, CEDAW/C/SGP/3, CEDAW, New York, NY.
Countries and Their Cultures (n.d.), Culture of Singapore, www.everyculture.com, accessed 21 February 2008.
UN (United Nations) (2004), World Fertility Report 2003, UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division, New York, NY.
US Department of State (2007), Country Reports on Human Rights Practices: Singapore, US Department of State, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor, Washington, DC.
