A/HRC/48/16 27. In 2018, the Government had enacted the Vulnerable Adults Act to protect persons 18 years of age and older who were unable to protect themselves from abuse, neglect and selfneglect, due to physical or mental disability. 28. Concerning older persons, the Government provided support so that they could live independently within the community. It had introduced new housing options and assisted living. In addition, the Code on Accessibility in the Built Environment had been refined to include universal design concepts. 29. Singapore had strengthened protection for women against violence, enhanced support for survivors of violence and shifted mindsets towards reporting violence. Amendments had been introduced into the Penal Code to repeal marital immunity for rape and increase penalties for offences, including those committed against victims in an intimate relationship with the offender. 30. An inter-agency task force on family violence had been set up to formulate recommendations on increasing awareness, protecting victims and holding perpetrators accountable for their actions. 31. Through public consultations, it emerged that there was a need to change the societal mindset on gender stereotypes, strengthen protection for women and girls and support women in achieving their career goals. The feedback received would assist the Government in reviewing its policies and presenting a white paper for parliamentary debate. 32. The Government had provided a number of benefits for the development of children, regardless of the marital status of their parents. Moreover, support had been extended to unwed parents through the government-paid maternity leave and child development account benefits. 33. All Singaporeans, including lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons, enjoyed equal access to opportunities and support, such as in education, jobs and health care. Social services were accessible to all, without discrimination. Singapore opposed violence, abuse, discrimination and harassment against all individuals, including lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons. Laws were in place to protect victims from domestic violence, regardless of their sexual orientation. 34. Migrant workers were an essential part of the development of Singapore, and Singapore was committed to supporting their well-being. A comprehensive legal framework ensured the protection of the rights of migrant workers, including foreign domestic workers. The majority of migrant workers were accorded the same rights as local workers under the Employment Act and the Work Injury Compensation Act. Foreign domestic workers were protected under the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act. Employers who violated the laws protecting migrant workers faced heavy fines or jail terms and could be banned from hiring migrant workers. In addition, migrants could seek assistance through nongovernmental organizations or the Services Centre of the Ministry of Manpower. 35. The Government had adopted a three-pronged approach to safeguarding against abuse of foreign domestic workers by educating employers, detecting cases through interviews and deterring abuse through heavy penalties. Singapore had also introduced home visits to check on the well-being and work and living environments of foreign domestic workers. 36. An employer’s consent was usually required before a migrant worker could seek new employment in Singapore, in order to balance the interests of migrant workers to change jobs and the interests of employers for stability and predictability in the employment relationship. However, such consent was not required in cases of a breach of legal protections, such as non-payment of salary. 37. Singapore recognized that high recruitment fees had created unnecessary financial burdens for migrant workers. Measures had been put into place to prevent the practice in Singapore. 38. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Government ensured that all migrant workers were given the same level of medical care as any Singaporean who fell ill with COVID-19, with the full cost of in-patient treatment borne by the Government. Migrant workers in dormitories were provided with free COVID-19 tests. An inter-agency task force had been 5