1996 STOCKHOLM DECLARATION AND AGENDA FOR ACTION (Ratification)

1996 STOCKHOLM DECLARATION AND AGENDA FOR ACTION:

(Ratification): 11.

Dr Amy Khor Lean Suan asked the Acting Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports why has Singapore not ratified the 1996 Stockholm Declaration and Agenda for Action which pledges a commitment to reduce child prostitution and child sex tourism.

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Acting Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports (Dr Mohamad Maliki Bin Osman) (for the Acting Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports): Sir, the Government fully supports the intention of the 1996 Stockholm Declaration to protect children. As Singapore takes its obligations very seriously, we will examine the details of the Declaration carefully before making a decision on its formal adoption.

I would like to inform the Member that Singapore is already a party to the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). This Convention reaffirms the intention of the Stockholm Declaration. It upholds the principle that every child has the right to special protection in situations of exploitation, such as child labour, drug abuse, sexual exploitation or sexual abuse, sale, trafficking and abduction.

There are very few cases of child exploitation in Singapore and we have adequate legislative provisions to protect our children. This robust legal framework is backed up by the tough enforcement stance we adopt against offences of child abuse and exploitation. It is also complemented by the many different kinds of social services available for children in need of protection.

Dr Amy Khor Lean Suan (Hong Kah): Sir, I would like to ask the Parliamentary Secretary why is it that this Declaration, whichwas in 1996, has not yet been looked at for ratification?

Dr Mohamad Maliki Bin Osman: Sir, as I mentioned earlier, we ratified the Convention on Rights of the Child in 1995. The spirit and broad principles of the Stockholm Declaration which came in 1996 are in line with those contained in the UN Convention on Rights of the Child.

Sir, the issues being deliberated by the relevant agencies are generally similar to those under the CRC, such asthe implementation and monitoring mechanisms, preventive strategies as well as protection of child victims. But we do realise also that the Stockholm Declaration focuses primarily on the exploitation of children. The commitments under the Stockholm Declaration are more specific. So, recognisingthe specificity of these issues presented under the Stockholm Declaration, we are currently looking into these specifics through consultation with relevant agencies. We are studying the commitments carefully and will make a decision in due course.