Women’s Charter This charter was the culmination of more than five years of campaigning by the People’s Action Party (PAP). In 1959, the PAP launched its One Man, One Wife campaign. Among the chief activists were the five women in the Legislative Assembly: Sahora Ahmat, Ho Puay Choo, Fung Yin Ching, Chan Choy Siong and Seow Peck Leng. That year, the PAP established its Women’s Affairs Bureau to improve the status of women in society. In 1960, the Legislative Assembly debated a proposal for a Women’s Charter to ‘enable women to have their rights safeguarded by legislation’. The Women’s Charter was enacted into law in 1961.

Previously, polygamy had been legal, and often resulted in inferior treatment for secondary wives or concubines, and their offspring. The charter sought to create an equal partnership between husband and wife, and to safeguard women’s rights in matters relating to marriage and divorce. It outlawed polygamy, and safeguarded matrimonial assets, maintenance and custody of children. It also protected family members from domestic violence, and women and girls from sexual offences.

Since 1961, the charter has been amended several times. The most extensive changes were made in 1996, with major amendments providing for the harmonious resolution of family disputes; more equitable distribution of matrimonial assets; mandatory counselling for perpetrators and victims of domestic violence; and the recognition of marriages of persons who have undergone sex re- assignment procedures.