Singapore has accepted 243 out of 342 recommendations, or 71%, made by United Nations member states during the latest Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of its human rights record, marking an increase from previous cycles. The country’s acceptance rate was 65% in 2021 and 53% in 2016. The UN’s UPR process, which evaluates the human rights performance of all 193 member states every five years, concluded Singapore’s fourth cycle with the adoption of the outcome report on September 28 in Geneva.

Singapore submitted its national report to the UN in February and engaged in the review in May, during which member states provided feedback and suggestions. Jaya Ratnam, Singapore’s permanent representative to the UN Office in Geneva, highlighted the nation’s pragmatic approach to human rights, emphasizing tangible progress and steady improvement in the lives of its people. The country’s framework rests on principles of pragmatism and the rule of law, applying laws predictably and fairly, grounded in the values of secularism, meritocracy, and multiracialism.

The recommendations Singapore accepted address a broad range of issues, including advancing women’s empowerment and enhancing protections for vulnerable groups such as people with disabilities, migrant workers, children, the elderly, and low-income communities. Several civil society organizations acknowledged recent legislative and policy developments, like the Workplace Fairness Act enacted in 2025 aimed at strengthening workplace discrimination protections, as well as amendments to the Women’s Charter. Disability advocacy groups noted improvements in local support services and revisions to the Code on Accessibility in the Built Environment, introduced in late 2025, which set stricter accessibility standards for public infrastructure.

Despite the progress acknowledged, some civil society groups expressed disappointment over Singapore’s decision not to endorse 99 of the recommendations. Among the most contentious issues were Singapore’s retention of the death penalty, which accounted for 22 of the unsupported recommendations, and limitations on freedoms of speech, expression, and peaceful assembly, which accounted for 12. Groups like CIVICUS urged the repeal of the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act and criticized the Public Order Act for curtailing the right to peaceful protest.

In response, Singapore reiterated in its national report that fundamental freedoms are constitutionally safeguarded but subject to responsible exercise and are not absolute. The government also defended the use of capital punishment as a sovereign criminal justice matter, ensuring due process and transparency in its application, while emphasizing its role in maintaining public safety and security.

Ratnam noted that roughly one-third of the recommendations the country did not accept pertained to the ratification of international human rights treaties. Singapore stressed that it only commits to treaties when confident it can fully implement all obligations, avoiding aspirational acceptance without practical follow-through.

Singapore’s ambassador highlighted the nation’s international rankings as indicators of its human rights efforts, citing its placement as 13th on the 2025 UN Human Development Index, second in the absence of corruption, and eighth for gender equality. However, he underscored that the government prioritizes the lived experiences of its citizens over global rankings and remains committed to continuous improvement to enhance dignity and opportunity for all people in Singapore.