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Ministry of Culture, Community & Youth
Press Statements

Singapore reaffirms commitment to combat racial discrimination with submission of ICERD report

Sectors

Community

28 November 2025

Singapore has submitted its combined second to fourth periodic reports (the Report) on the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD) to the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (Committee).

SINGAPORE, 27 NOVEMBER 2025 – Singapore has submitted its combined second to fourth periodic reports (the Report) on the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD) to the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (Committee). The report affirms our commitment to eliminate racial discrimination and strengthen social harmony, and was developed in consultation with our partners, including youths, religious and community leaders, community organisations and civil society organisations.

Highlights of Report

  • The report highlights Singapore’s vibrant and multicultural national identity. Our cohesive multi-racial and multi-religious community has been forged through generations of continual effort, and will continue to be a work-in-progress. Our shared national identity is built upon the rich and diverse identities of our communities, even as we grow our common space and deepen mutual understanding and appreciation. The report can be accessed here (opens in new tab).

  • The key developments and initiatives highlighted in the report include:

    • Enhanced legislative safeguards against discrimination: New laws such as the Maintenance of Racial Harmony Act 2025 and Workplace Fairness Act 2025 have been put in place to strengthen protections against discrimination. Amendments to the Maintenance of Religious Harmony Act were also made in 2019 to better manage risks to our religious harmony from the growing use of the Internet and social media. The Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act 2019 also protects public discourse from online falsehoods and misinformation.

    • Expanded policies and programmes to encourage social mixing and promote inter-cultural appreciation: The Character and Citizenship Education Curriculum in our schools was refreshed in 2021 to strengthen inter-cultural appreciation. Within our estates, the Racial and Religious Harmony Circles network was also strengthened in 2022 to enhance interactions between different ethnic and religious communities. Our community-based Self-Help Groups have also jointly introduced programmes, e.g. after-school care, to uplift the less privileged.

    • Strengthened ground-up community partnerships to promote multiculturalism: Government agencies like the National Arts Council and the People’s Association have collaborated with community and youth leaders to promote racial harmony and integration. These include arts and cultural initiatives, the Harmony Fund, and dialogues organised by OnePeople.SG (opens in new tab).

    • Greater international collaboration and knowledge sharing: The International Conference on Cohesive Societies was held in Singapore in 2025. It galvanised support from international stakeholders, including youth, to exchange best practices, engage in dialogues and develop collaborative frameworks to address common challenges in multicultural societies.

  • The ICERD is one of nine core United Nations human rights instruments. Under the ICERD, States Parties undertake to eliminate discrimination based on race, colour, descent, nationality or ethnic origin.

  • Singapore submitted its first report to the Committee in 2018, followed by its presentation to the Committee in 2021 at its 105th session in Geneva, Switzerland. The date for Singapore’s presentation of the Report will be determined by the Committee following its submission.

Annex A (opens in new tab)