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Speech

52nd Universal Periodic Review of human rights: UK Statement on Singapore

Statement by the UK's Permanent Representative to the WTO and UN, Kumar Iyer, at Singapore's Universal Periodic Review at the Human Rights Council in Geneva.

From:
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and Kumar Iyer CMG
Published
12 May 2026
Location:
Geneva
Delivered on:
(Transcript of the speech, exactly as it was delivered)
Kumar Iyer CMG

Thank you, Mr President.

The United Kingdom welcomes the introduction of the Workplace Fairness Act and its decriminalisation of same-sex acts. 

We urge Singapore to become party to the ICCPR, legislate against FGM, replace detention without trial with court trials and consider mental capacity in sentencing.  

In the spirit of ongoing dialogue, we recommend:

  1. Introduce a moratorium on executions and move towards abolition, and remove judicial corporal punishment;

  2. Mandate rest periods and create digital recruitment and wage payment processes for foreign domestic workers;

  3. Include protection against discrimination on the grounds of sexuality and gender identity in the Workplace Fairness Act and ensure equal treatment in government policies for LGBT+ persons

We thank the distinguished delegation for their constructive engagement today and wish them all the best for the rest of their review.

Updates to this page

Published 12 May 2026