Singapore - Universal Periodic Review - Death Penalty - October 2025
Country: Singapore
Partners: Anti Death Penalty Asia Network, Capital Punishment Justice Project, World Coalition Against the Death Penalty
Issues: Death Penalty
Mechanism: UN Universal Periodic Review
Report Type: Stakeholder Report
This submission addresses Singapore's compliance with its
human rights obligations with regards to the death penalty. Singapore extensively uses capital punishment, executing 37 people since resuming
executions in March 2022 (following no executions in 2020 and 2021) - predominantly for
drug-related offences, contrary to international law and standards. The August 2025
clemency granted to Tristan Tan Yi Rui marked the first since 1998, highlighting the
exceptional rarity of such mercy. This submission addresses: Aspects of legislation that create arbitrary outcomes in death penalty matters, such
as mandatory sentencing, limitations on judicial discretion, and presumptions that
reverse the burden of proof; Alarming developments, such as carrying out executions while court proceedings
are ongoing, and the execution of persons with disabilities, despite Singapore
being a signatory to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities; Significant legislative changes through the introduction of the Post-appeal
Applications in Capital Cases Act 2022 and amendments to the Administration of
Justice (Protection) Act 2016, which further restrict access to justice for persons
facing execution, while punitive cost orders can deter lawyers from acting beyond
the initial trial and appeal stages; Severe restrictions on freedom of expression, particularly through the use of the
Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act 2019, which curtails
efforts to raise awareness about the use of the death penalty in Singapore or to
present information that differs from the government narrative.
