Adoption of the Outcome of Singapore's Fourth Universal Periodic Review, 28 September 2026

The outcome of Singapore’s Fourth Universal Periodic Review (UPR) was adopted on 28 September 2026. The adoption took place during the ongoing 63^rd regular session of the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council. Singapore’s Permanent Representative to the UN Office in Geneva, Ambassador Jaya Ratnam, delivered Singapore’s national statements during the adoption.

Following Singapore’s fourth UPR on 12 May 2026, the Inter-Ministry Committee on Human Rights has carefully reviewed the 342 recommendations that Singapore received. Singapore has supported the majority of the recommendations, where appropriate for our context and consistent with our ongoing efforts to ensure that Singapore continues to be an inclusive, cohesive, and resilient society. We have also taken note of recommendations where Singapore has legislation and policies that address the recommendations’ underlying objectives in ways that best suit our unique national context and social realities.

As a small, racially and religiously diverse city-State, Singapore takes a pragmatic and outcomes-based approach towards promoting and protecting human rights. Many delegations have recognised the advances Singapore has made in promoting and protecting human rights since our third UPR in 2021. We would like to thank the many states that constructively participated in Singapore’s UPR and for their interest in our human rights journey. Singapore looks forward to continuing our engagement in the UPR process, including during the fifth cycle of the UPR.

Singapore’s national statements are appended.

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MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

SINGAPORE

28 SEPTEMBER 2026

REMARKS BY AMBASSADOR JAYA RATNAM, PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF SINGAPORE TO THE UNITED NATIONS AND OTHER INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATIONS IN GENEVA, AT THE ADOPTION OF THE REPORT OF THE WORKING GROUP ON THE UNIVERSAL PERIODIC REVIEW OF SINGAPORE, 63^RD REGULAR SESSION OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL, 28 SEPTEMBER 2026

Opening Remarks

Mr President,

Excellencies,

Ladies and gentlemen,

I have the honour to present to the Human Rights Council Singapore’s response to the 342 recommendations received at our fourth Universal Periodic Review, which took place on the 12^th of May. 

We would like to convey our deepest appreciation to the Secretariat and our Troika for their invaluable support throughout the course of this review. We are also gratified by the depth of the participation and engagement at our review.

Singapore’s Approach to Human Rights

Mr President,

Singapore is a strong supporter of the UPR. We were part of a small group of countries that contributed to its creation. We approach the UPR as a platform for a frank dialogue on human rights. It allows us to draw lessons and ideas from one another. Singapore has therefore participated actively in every UPR cycle with an open mind and a commitment to follow through on the recommendations we support.

Our approach to human rights rests on a simple premise: progress should always be measured by tangible outcomes for our people. As a small, densely populated, multi-racial, multi-religious city-state, we have worked hard to build a society where our people can grow, thrive and achieve their aspirations. In doing so, we have held tight to two foundational pillars that have, over time, built trust between our communities, and between the government and our people.

The first is pragmatism. Trust is built when the government delivers results. In our early years, that meant providing education, healthcare, decent jobs and a safe living environment. Today, it means continuing to provide those things, as well as preparing for future needs like thriving in a digital world and staying ahead of climate risks. This pragmatic, outcomes-focused approach has steadily improved the lives of our people.

The second is the rule of law. Trust is reinforced when the law is applied predictably and firmly, in service of our core principles: of fairness, secularism, meritocracy, and multi-racialism. These fundamental tenets have been deliberately incorporated in our policies. For instance, we have seen how quickly words can lead to violence when communal trust breaks down. We therefore prioritise social cohesion and we reinforce this through our racial and religious harmony laws, as this is a precondition for many other rights that our people enjoy.

Each country will take different approaches to advancing human rights, reflecting their particular cultural, social, economic, and historical circumstances. What matters is whether these approaches deliver meaningful progress for their people.

Recommendations Received at Singapore’s 4^th UPR

With this in mind, our National Mechanism for Implementation, Reporting and Follow-Up, NMIRF, has considered the feedback and recommendations carefully. We are pleased to support 243, or more than 70%, of recommendations received.

We have supported recommendations that complement Singapore’s efforts to build a more inclusive, cohesive and resilient society. Recognising that our efforts are part of an ongoing process, we thank those who have acknowledged the progress we have made. We will continue to strengthen social safety nets and enhance social resilience in areas such as education, public healthcare, support for lower income groups, migrant worker welfare, labour rights, and digital inclusion.

Mr President,

Around a third of the recommendations that we have noted relate to the ratification of international human rights treaties. As explained during our review, Singapore does not regard treaty obligations as an aspirational exercise. We accede only when we are sure we can fully implement every aspect. We periodically review our positions on ratifying additional treaties or on removing reservations. But we do not commit to ratification ahead of such reviews, so as not to prejudge outcomes.

For many of the remaining recommendations that we have noted, Singapore already has legislation and policies that address their underlying objectives – in ways best suited to our unique social and cultural context. For example, the Singapore Constitution guarantees equality before the law for all persons. This is reinforced by structural and community mechanisms that prevent discrimination and promote sensitive accommodation between groups that may have different needs or deeply differing views.

Mr President,

Singapore’s approach to human rights has always been shaped by our diverse peoples and a pragmatic outlook. In this spirit of continuous improvement, we will continue advancing human rights in ways that improve lives, safeguard dignity, and expand opportunities for our people.

We look forward to hearing constructive comments and observations of the distinguished members and observers of this Council at this session.

Thank you.

Concluding Remarks

Thank you, Mr President.

I am grateful to all member states and civil society representatives for your contributions. Dialogue of this kind is what makes this process useful.

We have taken careful note of the views and suggestions and will continue to reflect on what works best in Singapore’s context.

We note that some have raised the issue of capital punishment, the issue of freedom of expression and assembly, and the perceived effects of legislation such as the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (POFMA) on legitimate speech. These have already been comprehensively addressed in our national report and at our review in May.

Mr President,

To conclude, Singapore’s commitment to human rights is not abstract. It is expressed in the life of a child from a low-income family who grows up with opportunities to excel and a realistic hope for a better future. It is expressed in the worker whose rights are protected, an older person who is not left behind, and a community that lives safely.

We are heartened that these efforts have been recognised internationally. Singapore ranked 13^th globally in the UN’s 2025 Human Development Index, 2^nd for the Absence of Corruption and 16^th overall in the 2025 World Justice Project’s Rule of Law Index, and 8^th for gender equality in the 2025 UN Gender Inequality Index. In the latest 2026 Edelman Trust Barometer results, 76% of those surveyed expressed trust in the Singapore government, well above the 53% global average.

But we care more about the lived realities of our people than about rankings; and the work is never finished. Every generation inherits a Singapore made by the choices of those before them. The way we care for one another, uphold the rule of law, and protect the dignity of each person – these are not just policy commitments. They are the foundations of the future we are building.

Mr President,

Singapore’s fourth UPR has been productive. We now turn to implementing the recommendations that we have supported, and continuing the work of improving the lives and human rights for all Singaporeans.

I thank you for your participation in our UPR.

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