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Proposal to decriminalise attempted suicide tabled in Parliament as part of Penal Code changes
The proposed move to decriminalise attempted suicide was among the sweeping amendments in the Criminal Law Reform Bill tabled in Parliament on Monday (11 February).
The recommendations also included better protection for vulnerable victims and repealing marital immunity for rape, which were part of a report submitted by the Penal Code Review Committee (PCRC) to Minister for Home Affairs and for Law K Shanmugam in August last year.
Formed in July 2016, the PCRC is co-chaired by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office and Second Minister for Education and Finance Indranee Rajah and Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Ministry of Home Affairs Amrin Amin.
As part of the report, the PCRCheld engagement sessions with more than 700 stakeholders from the legal, social, religious, financial and education sectors. More than 60 individuals and organisations also submitted written feedback on the report.
The government has considered the recommendations and feedback received as well as agreed with most of the recommendations, said the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) in a press release.
Decriminalisation of attempted suicide; definition of ‘rape’
The repeal of attempted suicide does not mean that the government has shifted its position on the sanctity of life, said the MHA.
“This is reflected through the continued criminalisation of the abetment of attempted suicide, as well as amendments to other legislation to provide the police with the powers to intervene to prevent loss of life or injury in cases of attempted suicide,” added the MHA.
The proposed move to decriminalise attempted suicide was among the sweeping amendments in the Criminal Law Reform Bill tabled in Parliament on Monday (11 February).
The recommendations also included better protection for vulnerable victims and repealing marital immunity for rape, which were part of a report submitted by the Penal Code Review Committee (PCRC) to Minister for Home Affairs and for Law K Shanmugam in August last year.
Formed in July 2016, the PCRC is co-chaired by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office and Second Minister for Education and Finance Indranee Rajah and Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Ministry of Home Affairs Amrin Amin.
As part of the report, the PCRCheld engagement sessions with more than 700 stakeholders from the legal, social, religious, financial and education sectors. More than 60 individuals and organisations also submitted written feedback on the report.
The government has considered the recommendations and feedback received as well as agreed with most of the recommendations, said the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) in a press release.
Decriminalisation of attempted suicide; definition of ‘rape’
The repeal of attempted suicide does not mean that the government has shifted its position on the sanctity of life, said the MHA.
“This is reflected through the continued criminalisation of the abetment of attempted suicide, as well as amendments to other legislation to provide the police with the powers to intervene to prevent loss of life or injury in cases of attempted suicide,” added the MHA.