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Year: 2014

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Anti-trafficking law: Singapore can do better

By Vivienne Wee and Goh Li Sian

gavelThe recently passed Prevention of Human Trafficking Act has been lauded as a significant advance. Building on the work of the Inter-Agency Task Force on trafficking, it reflects a welcome consciousness that trafficking is a serious problem requiring decisive state action. However, beyond its symbolic value, it should be asked: How well does it measure against international standards?

Three international standards are relevant. The first is the US’ annual Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report. This classifies states in terms of success in protecting victims. In 2010, Singapore slipped from Tier 2 in a four-tier system to a “Tier 2 Watch List”, for countries with a significant number of trafficking victims and which fail to show efforts to combat the situation. This classification was due to Singapore’s ostensibly inadequate prosecution or conviction of human traffickers, especially labour traffickers.

The 2014 TIP report notes the Government’s failure to recognise elements of trafficking in cases without physical confinement or abuse. While some criticise the TIP report as patchy, it nevertheless indicates the distance that Singapore has yet to go.

The second is the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women. This is a key human rights treaty that Singapore has ratified. Article 6 requires states to take all appropriate measures to suppress all forms of trafficking in women. The third is the UN Palermo Protocol on trafficking. This is ratified by 165 states of the UN but not Singapore.

How far does the new Act go towards meeting these three global standards and preventing human trafficking? Although the Act’s definitions are said to be based on international treaties, the Act does not adequately recognise key elements of trafficking as set out in the Palermo Protocol, such as profiteering by traffickers.

The Act also offers little recognition of the rights to safety and livelihood necessary to encourage victims to report their cases, identify traffickers and testify against them – a process which can take up to three years. Unless victims feel secure that their welfare needs will be met, they will be discouraged from coming forward to participate in these prosecutions.

The Act currently allows for “temporary shelter”, but without mandating the nature of this accommodation and without any legal guarantee that victims will not be detained. The Act makes no mention of protecting victims from being prosecuted for immigration infractions inadvertently committed while being trafficked. This gap will deter victims from reporting their cases, for fear of being arrested. Indeed, traffickers have used this possibility as a threat to coerce victims.

The right of victims to work and to have decent income is important for protection from further exploitation. Most victims of trafficking are attracted to Singapore by the prospect of earning an income, a bait used by traffickers in deceptive recruitment. Many victims would be reluctant to make a report if it means no income for their families during the time their cases are ongoing.

We have two recommendations. The Act needs to be amended to make it more comprehensive. The Inter-Agency Task Force should implement the Act in ways that uphold these rights. Only then will Singapore make real progress towards meeting international anti-trafficking standards.

The writers are, respectively, research and advocacy director and coordinator at the Association of Women for Action and Research (AWARE).

This op-ed was first published in the Straits Times on 21 December, 2014. AWARE is a partner of the StopTraffickingSG campaign – follow the campaign on Twitter (#stoptraffickingsg).

Don’t overstate risks of abortion

By Jolene Tan, Programmes and Communications Senior Manager, AWARE

Pre-abortion counselling should facilitate patients’ choices, rather than seek to influence them, and provide scientifically sound and accurate information, as well as non-judgmental support.

Importantly, the likelihood and significance of medical risks associated with abortion should not be exaggerated or misrepresented.

For instance, contrary to claims in the letter, “Provide support, comfort to all women mulling over abortion” (Dec 6), terminations do not typically affect fertility.

The United Kingdom’s National Health Service states: “Having an abortion will not usually affect your chances of becoming pregnant and having normal pregnancies in future.”

The Guttmacher Institute has likewise found that abortions in the first trimester “pose virtually no long-term risk” of infertility.

Indeed, the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) recommends that “women should be informed that abortion is a safe procedure, for which major complications and mortality are rare at all gestations.” Many medical experts, including the RCOG, agree also that abortion does not typically pose a risk to mental health, and that “the predominant feeling following abortion is one of relief and diminution of stress”.

The American Psychological Association has also found that among adult women with unplanned pregnancies, choosing a single first-trimester abortion carries no greater chance of mental health problems than delivering the pregnancy.

In other words, scientific evidence does not support the idea of post-abortion syndrome. The early abortion of unplanned pregnancies does not cause post-traumatic stress disorder.

Policymakers and the public should recognise that each patient seeking to terminate a pregnancy is an individual with specific needs, values, aspirations and circumstances.

The patient herself is best placed to understand and assess the meaning and impact, for herself and her family, of bringing a pregnancy to term. Before approaching a doctor, she would probably have consulted those in her life she trusts. If her partner’s involvement in the process would help, she is likely to solicit it, regardless of whether this is a component of pre-abortion counselling. (Pre-abortion counselling should be holistic, affirming”; Dec 8)

Both the World Health Organization and the United Nations Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights identify access to health-related information as a crucial part of access to health care.

We hope that the proposed changes to the pre-abortion counselling regime will make accurate information and non-judgmental support available to all patients, regardless of background.

The appropriate measure of success is how well women are supported and empowered through the process, rather than any particular reproductive outcome.

This letter was first published in TODAY Voices on 10 December 2014.

Sign up for our self-defence course!

selfdefenceThere are many ways for you to protect yourself in various situations. Size, strength and exertion do not always matter. Learn to use pressure points and body mechanics to take a person down with little effort.

Come learn ‘Modern Street Combatives’ at AWARE. The self-defence techniques taught in this system draw upon some of the best in class street systems such as Kapap, Catch Wrestling, Gracie/ Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Dynamic Combat Method, Savate etc.

Using a blended approach of psychology and body guarding principles, participants will learn the basics of realistic self defense within just 10 sessions.

Details:
Dates: Every Tuesday, starting 13 January to 17 March 2015 (10 weeks)
Time: 7pm – 9pm
Location: AWARE Centre

Click here to register!

Public Consultation on Proposed Changes to Pre-Abortion Counselling Criteria

This is a summary of key points in the written submission by AWARE to the Ministry of Health, as part of its public consultation on proposed changes to the criteria for mandatory pre-abortion counselling.

Background

stethoscopeAWARE is Singapore’s leading gender equality advocacy group. We seek to remove gender-based barriers in society, so that women and men can reach their fullest potential.

As part of our work to support informed choice, we provide the public with scientifically accurate and practical information on reproductive healthcare.

Currently, our webpage on abortion is the top Google hit for the search terms ‘abortion Singapore’ and the second for ‘unwanted pregnancy Singapore’. As of 1 December, this page had received over 80 hits a day (close to 29,000 in total). It was the most viewed page on our site in 2013 (21,926 visits).

We also receive telephone inquiries from members of the public seeking information about the nature and availability of abortion services.

Purpose of counselling

Every patient should be free to decide whether to terminate a pregnancy, based on her own circumstances, needs, values and aspirations.

We hope that the following principles will shape government policy on pre-abortion counselling:

  • The purpose of the counselling is to empower women to make informed choices.
  • The counselling regime is non-directive, supporting patients in making their own choices, rather than aiming at specific reproductive outcomes (for any demographic groups or among the population at large).

Access to counselling

In view of these objectives, the previous criteria for mandatory counselling (based on education, background etc.) are inappropriate. Informative, supportive and non-directive pre-abortion counselling should be provided equally to all abortion patients.

Content of counselling

The content of counselling should have the following features:

  • A non-directive approach which seeks to support and facilitate, rather than influence, patients’ choices.
  • Neutral, informative presentation of scientifically accurate information. The medical risks associated with abortion should not be exaggerated or described in a way that causes undue fear, panic or guilt in the patient.
  • Patients who express a need for further information about social support should receive assistance from unbiased sources.

Accordingly, materials used in pre-abortion counselling should be neutral and informative, facilitating independent choices by patients. In particular, it should:

  • Use appropriate imagery. Pictures of full-term pregnant abdomens or newborns (e.g. baby fingers grasping an adult hand) are inaccurate depictions of pregnant women or foetuses at the point of abortion. Dramatic fonts should be avoided.
  • Use appropriate language. Neutral medical terminology such as “foetus” should be used, rather than “unborn baby” or “infant”.
  • Contextualise health risks: Information about the medical risks of abortion should be supplemented with the following:
    • Probability: If complications are described, their incidence should be included, to avoid an exaggerated picture of their likelihood. A good model is the UK NHS website. Researchers suggest that “Women should be informed that abortion is a safe procedure, for which major complications and mortality are rare at all gestations.”
    • Risks of pregnancy: By describing only the risks of abortion, brochures give an incomplete picture. The risks of pregnancy and childbirth should also be included (e.g. diabetes, hypertension, infection, mental health issues, hyperemesis gravidarum and ectopic pregnancy). The severity and incidence of these risks is greater than those of abortions.
  • Video: The video “Abortion: Consider with Care” is sensationalist and should be replaced. We hope the new video will be non-directive, in line with the general purpose of the counselling regime. In particular:
    • Information on the risks of abortion should be contextualised with their probability and the risks of pregnancy. Abortion should not be presented as a threat to fertility. “Abortions performed in the first trimester pose virtually no long-term risk of such problems as infertility.” (Guttmacher Institute)
    • Emotional music and dramatic images should be avoided.
    • Negative emotions should not be emphasised. The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) finds that after abortions, patients feel primarily “relief and diminution of stress.” There is no causal association between abortion for an unwanted pregnancy and psychiatric illness or self-harm.

We are happy to work with the Ministry and/or the Health Promotion Board to develop new versions of any materials.

Training and quality control

Pre- and post-abortion counselling should only be performed by qualified professionals who receive training from KKH social workers in applying a non-directive approach. We urge that all prospective and current counsellors complete training or a refresher at KKH to ensure that they comply with the non-directive approach.

Parties who do not undergo this training or comply with this approach should not conduct abortion-related activities at (or access patients through) polyclinics, to ensure quality control and consistency in all the information received by patients.

Referrals to third party agencies

During pre- and post-abortion counselling, patients may be referred to third party agencies. Patients need non-judgmental services that prioritise their welfare without promoting a moral or religious agenda. Agencies should not harm patients by inducing guilt or creating emotional or psychological difficulties. We urge the Ministry to ensure that patients are only referred to neutral agencies.

Roundtable: Women Writing

booksssssJoin us on 7 January for a roundtable to discuss women’s representation and gender in their own work and in the local literary scene.

Gender has come under the spotlight recently in discussions of the Singapore writing scene. Despite the presence of several prominent women writers, the participation and presence of women in the local literary scene has sometimes been described as insufficient. Women’s bid to challenge cultural hegemonies and enter formal literary institutions in Singapore have generated much discussion, interest and opposition.

Event Details:
Date: Wednesday, 7 January, 2015
Time: 7:30pm
Location: AWARE Centre

Click here to register!

About the Speakers:

Tania De Rozario is an artist, writer and curator whose work has been showcased in Singapore, London, San Francisco, Amsterdam, New York and Spain. She is the author of Tender Delirium (Math Paper Press, 2013), which was shortlisted for the 2014 Singapore Literature Prize, and winner of the 2011 SPH-NAC Golden Point Award for English Poetry. She runs EtiquetteSG, a multidisciplinary platform focused on developing and showcasing art, writing, film and music made by women, and is an Associate Artist with The Substation. Her work can be found at www.TaniaDeRozario.com.

Stephanie Dogfoot has been writing and performing poetry as well as organising spoken word events since 2008. She has won national poetry slams in Singapore and the UK and has been invited to perform around Europe and Southeast Asia. She wrote and performed a one-woman show about activism and identity called Foreigner Go Home(With Me!) at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2012. Her writing is published in EtiqutteSG’s Body Boundaries anthology. She is part of the feminist poetry collective Sekaliwags.

Jolene Tan is the Programmes and Communications Senior Manager at AWARE. Her first novel, A Certain Exposure (Epigram Books), has been described as “a quiet powerful tale about the dangers of unthinking conformity” (Straits Times) and “a haunting story about elitism and prejudice in a society which recites daily pledges to maintain equality for all” (Balli Kaur Jaswal, author of Inheritance).

Verena Tay is a Singapore-based writer, editor, storyteller and theatre practitioner. She has published a short story collection, Spectre (Math Paper Press, 2012), and three play collections. She has also edited seven fiction anthologies, including the popular Balik Kampung series. For more information, please visit www.verenatay.com.

Breakthrough: We Can! Arts Fest 2014

we can logoWe Can! Arts Fest returns this December, celebrating diversity and the freedom to be you, with Breakthrough.

With a focus on youth, Breakthrough will feature young artists, performers, youth groups and students, all coming together to showcase their original art, share personal stories, and start critical discussions on gender stereotypes, stigma and the different forms of violence that affect youth in our society.

The festival will use the powerful medium of art, performance and conversation to challenge the expectations and pressures that youth face in their peer groups because of their gender, spark ideas for change and celebrate a youth culture that is inclusive, supportive and safe for everyone. Speak up, take a stand and break the box with us. This event is created by the youth, for the youth, so take a stand against violence with us!

Event details:

Date: 6 December 2014
Time: 11am – 8pm
Venue: SMU Admin Building, Level 6 (University Lounge)

Click here for the full programme.

Breakthrough programme

At Breakthrough, you can expect dance performances by students from Because I’m A Girl, a gender collective at United World College Tampines; an interactive theatre skit performed and originally written by Shoes Theatre; a discussion panel on representations of women in horror; a session of live poetry performances by writers from Body/Language, our creative writing programme, and many, many more.

Roundtable: Representation of Hijab in the Media

12511148182020482402hijab.svg.medJoin GEC  at AWARE on 3 December for a roundtable  to explore the various representations of hijab in the media.

“Veiled Representation” will provide an outlook into the perception of Hijab and veiling in the new media era. The talk will discuss differences between how the “West” and “Muslim” contexts approach veiled women. It will provide a brief analysis of the western view of veiling and how it serves to construct discourses that make veiled women “the other”. In addition, the speaker will critique how the veil has emerged as a political symbol and discuss how Islam is represented through the bodies of Muslim women in the media.

It will also aspire to reflect discussions rooted in the Islamic tradition about donning the hijab, hijabi women’s representation in the media, and touch on how hijabi women present themselves in new media where physical presence is absent. This roundtable discussion will seek to convey both western conditioned imagery of veiled Muslim women and veiled Muslim women’s thoughts and self-representation in media with an emphasis on new media.

Event Details:

Date: Wednesday, 3 December

Time: 7:30pm

Location: AWARE Centre

Click here to register!

About the speaker: Gulizar Haciyakupoglu is a PhD candidate with Lee Kong Chian scholarship at the National University of Singapore (NUS). Her research interests include the intricate relation between Gender and New Media, Islam and New Media, Gender and Islam, and Deliberative Democracy. Her dissertation focuses on effects of the interplay between emphasis on oral communication in Islamic culture vis-à-vis stress on dissemination under postmodernity on the promulgation of Islamic feminist interpretations of gender equality in Islam by way of new media.

S377A ruling contradicts Government position on equality

By Goh Li Sian, Research and Advocacy Coordinator, AWARE

The Court of Appeal’s recent ruling upholding Section 377A of the Penal Code as constitutional affects primarily the gay, gavellesbian, bisexual and queer community. However, it also has interesting implications for gender equality, as its reasoning throws into doubt Singapore’s compliance with its international legal obligations under the Convention for the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).

In 2011, in response to a question from the United Nations’ CEDAW Committee, the Government stated that the Singapore Constitution guarantees equality “regardless of gender, sexual orientation and gender identity”. The Government maintained that this protection was present even though Article 12 of the Constitution, which gives a guarantee of equality, makes no explicit reference to these grounds.

The judgment by the Court of Appeal contradicts the Government’s position and makes clear that the Constitution, in its present form, forbids the state from engaging in discrimination only in relation to the specific grounds listed explicitly in Article 12(2) — that is, “religion, race, descent or place of birth”.

The Court emphasises that additional grounds can only be added by Parliament, not by statutory construction through the Courts. As such, it is a definitive statement that Article 12(2) does not currently prevent state discrimination on the grounds of sex or gender.

This invalidates the Government’s previous reliance on the Constitution in responding to the CEDAW Committee and raises serious doubt as to whether the state is in compliance with its legal obligations.

In order to maintain our standing as a nation that honours its international commitments, we call upon Parliament to explicitly amend Article 12 in order to afford equal protection before the law, regardless of gender, sexual orientation and gender identity.

This letter was first published in TODAY voices on 17 November 2014.

Reconsider classification of children as legitimate or illegitimate

By Sumedha Jalote, Communications Executive, AWARE

The Social and Family Development Ministry stated recently that the Government provides support and benefits for the care and development of all Singaporean children, regardless of their mother’s marital status.child_holding_hand

This is despite the disparity in entitlements for married and unwed mothers in areas such as housing, childcare and maternity leave. (“Withholding childcare benefits only penalises single parents”; Nov 11)

While the ministry distinguishes between support for children and incentives to encourage childbirth within marriages, the social and economic impact of these policies is to place some children at an advantage and others at a disadvantage.

In practice, the support enjoyed by children for stable lives depends on their mothers’ marital status.

Importantly, these disparate benefits relate to essentials such as shelter and the ability of mothers to reconcile their families’ livelihood with their parental responsibilities at home.

The sense that some, but not all, families are meaningfully included as part of our society is exacerbated by the sometimes harsh and alienating language used by government agencies in communication with single parents.

Recently, a single mother wrote to the Association of Women for Action and Research regarding a letter she had received from the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore.

The letter, rejecting her claim for tax relief, emphasised that this relief was only for a child defined as a legitimate child, stepchild or legally adopted child.

It stated that the tax reliefs are meant to encourage family formation in the context of an intact and complete family. The mother found this language from an authority to be disappointing.

We should reconsider the classification of children as legitimate or illegitimate, or language implying that some families are broken or incomplete.

These labels stigmatise children for their parents’ circumstances and do not do credit to the familial bonds in single-parent households, which are as valuable as those in any other kind of family.

A mother is a mother, regardless of marital status, this woman told us. The Government should give all parents the support they need, instead of causing them to feel that they are not valued.

This letter was first published in TODAY Voices on 14 November 2014.