Singapore Council of
Women's Organisations
The Women's Charter was passed in
1961 to protect and advance the rights of women and girls in
Singapore.
It is an act
“to provide for monogamous
marriages and for the solemnatisation and registration of such
marriages; to amend and consolidate the law relating to divorce,
the rights and duties of married persons, the protection of family,
the maintenance of wives and children and the punishment of
offences against women and girls; and to provide for matters
incidental thereto”.
Thus, it is a statute that brings
together the regulation of the relationship between husband and
wife and the relationship between parents and their children,
termination of marriages and division of matrimonial assets.
The Women’s Charter applies to men
and women in Singapore. It does not, however, apply to Muslim
divorces, which in Singapore are governed by Muslim law and the Syariah Court
In October 2010, the Ministry of Community Development, Youth
and Sports (MCYS) called for public consultation on changes to the
Women’s Charter.
The latest amendments to the Women’s Charter were passed in
January 2011. The amended Charter introduces provisions to
better prepare at-risk couples for marriage, to mitigate the impact
of divorces, and to strengthen the enforcement of maintenance
orders.
Details:
Women's Charter at Singapore
Statutes Online.
Information:
http://app1.mcys.gov.sg/Policies/WomenCelebratingWomen/TheWomensCharter.aspx
