Overview of Human Rights in Singapore

The Republic of Singapore is a parliamentary republic with a better than average human rights record when compared with other countries across the globe. While the government works to respect the rights of both its citizens and the foreign workers in residence, there are, however, some areas in which problems exist.   For example, the government’s ability to limit citizens’ rights has meant that some rights and/or privileges can be given or taken away at any moment. In recent years, the government has, indeed, restricted freedoms of speech, press, assembly, association, and religion. These actions have occurred despite Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s call for a more open and inclusive society. Journalists continue to practice self-censorship due to fear of reprisal at the hands of the government. The judiciary is also not free from government influence. Other issues such as the practice of preventative detention and caning are also concerns to human rights activists.

Human Development Index (HDI) Rank:

25th out of 177

Note: Human Development Index (HDI) is a composite index that measures the level of well-being of nations in the world. It uses factors such as poverty, literacy, life-expectancy, education, gross domestic product, and purchasing power parity to assess the average achievements in each nation. It has been used in the United Nation’s Human Development Report since 1993.