OPTIONAL PROTOCOL TO THE CONVENTION ON THE ELIMINATION OF ALL FORMS OF DISCRIMINATION AGAINST WOMEN

OPTIONAL PROTOCOL TO THE CONVENTION ON THE ELIMINATION OF ALL FORMS OF DISCRIMINATION AGAINST WOMEN: 7.

Prof. Thio Li-ann asked the Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports whether the Government will consider acceding to the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women to promote the implementation of treaty rights and obligations.

Mrs Yu-Foo Yee Shoon (for the Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports): Mr Speaker, Sir, the Government has considered this issue carefully and decided that we would not accede to the Optional Protocol. It is described as 'Optional' as States Parties are not obliged to accede to it. The majority of signatories to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women have not acceded to this Optional Protocol. The provisions of the optional protocol infringe on a nation's sovereignty by enabling the United Nations CEDAW Committee to consider complaints from an individual or group within the State's jurisdiction who claims to be victims of violation of CEDAW and commence inquiry procedures pursuant to these claims.

In Singapore, the Government Ministries, the Courts, and ultimately Parliament, are well able to investigate complaints of discrimination, provide redress, and ensure a legislative and policy framework that ensures that women enjoy full and equal rights. There is still work to be done, but we will do it ourselves in our own way without foreign interference. This remains a fundamental principle of governance in Singapore.

Prof. Thio Li-ann: Sir, I would like to ask the Minister of State whether her Ministry actually receives any complaints

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from Singapore women who feel that their rights under CEDAW have been violated and, if so, what kind of action is taken.

Mrs Yu-Foo Yee Shoon: Sir, so far, we have not received any specific complaints in this area, but we do organise periodical feedback. I am sure the women MPs also organise various feedback. REACH, under the chairmanship of Dr Amy Khor, conducts a lot of tea sessions with women and women's groups. I myself, under the Women's Desk, which is the national women's machinery for Government to oversee women's issues, together with the inter-Ministry committees of other Ministries, oversee all these areas. And in each Ministry, they have a formal channel to monitor any complaints. We also have an independent judiciary system to receive any complaint if people want to go through this channel