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Everyone has a part to play to end violence against women

Recent reports of violence against and sexual harassment of women in some countries has sparked a global outcry, including many reports and commentaries in the media.

Nov 25, is International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, commemorated by nations around the world to combat and raise awareness of violence against women. Photo: Zach Guinta via Unsplash

Nov 25, is International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, commemorated by nations around the world to combat and raise awareness of violence against women. Photo: Zach Guinta via Unsplash

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Ang Bee Lian, Director of Social Welfare, Ministry of Social and Family Development

Recent reports of violence against and sexual harassment of women in some countries has sparked a global outcry, including many reports and commentaries in the media.

Today, Nov 25, is International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, commemorated by nations around the world to combat and raise awareness of violence against women.

Violence against women and girls must not be tolerated in any form. Eliminating violence against women not only ensures that a basic human right is respected, but empowers women to lead their lives and reach their full potential. This is an important step towards achieving greater gender equality.

Singapore acceded to the United Nations (UN) Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (Cedaw) in 1995. As a State Party to Cedaw, Singapore submitted its fifth periodic report in 2015 and recently presented the report at a review session with the UN Committee in Geneva.

The report noted the progress for women today, and the latest UN Gender Inequality Index ranked Singapore 11th out of 159 countries, and second in Asia.

Our women are well-educated — the literacy rate for women is 95.4 per cent, and half of our university graduates are women. Our women also contribute actively to our economy. The employment rate for women aged 25-64 has increased from about 63 per cent 10 years ago, to 72 per cent last year.

Singapore has continued to strengthen support for women since the last Cedaw review in 2011. This included the introduction of new laws, such as the Prevention of Human Trafficking Act and the Protection from Harassment Act, as well as enhancements to the Women’s Charter, to provide greater protection for women.

We have also improved our policies. For example, recognising that fathers and mothers are equally important as caregivers, fathers can now tap on two weeks of paternity leave to be present in the lives of their children.

We have ramped up public education. Last year, the Ministry of Social and Family Development launched the Break the Silence | Against Family Violence campaign to raise awareness of family violence, and to encourage the community to step in if they witness or suspect an act of family violence.

Everyone has a part to play, so that our women feel safe and protected, and have the opportunity to achieve more.

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