Latest news with #EdwinTong
CNA
7 days ago
- Health
- CNA
CARE Network to strengthen aftercare support for ex-offenders, improve recidivism outcomes
An ex-offender support network in Singapore is looking to partner the health sector to help care for elderly former inmates. The proportion of inmates aged 65 and above in Singapore doubled between 2020 and 2024 to reach 8%, or 574 inmates, in 2024. The move is part of a new five-year plan to strengthen community support for ex-offenders. Speaking at an event to mark the 25th anniversary of CARE Network, Law and Second Home Affairs Minister Edwin Tong said the network has played a big role in reducing recidivism rates in Singapore.
Straits Times
7 days ago
- Straits Times
New efforts introduced to support ex-offenders' rehabilitation, lower recidivism rate
Minister for Law and Second Minister for Home Affairs Edwin Tong speaking at the CARE Network Summit and Correctional Practice and Research Symposium on July 24. SINGAPORE - To better support ex-offenders in easing back into society, staff will be moved across organisations to share expertise and the aftercare support sector will widen its network of partners, said Minister of Law Edwin Tong on July 24. These steps, along with assessing needs and reducing programme overlap, are part of new efforts to improve care for ex-offenders in the next five years. The new framework for the Community Action for the Rehabilitation of Ex-Offenders (Care) Network - made up of agencies that support this work - will guide sector efforts and aim to further improve recidivism among ex-offenders. Singapore's two-year recidivism rate has fallen from 40.1 per cent in 2000 to 21.3 per cent for the 2022 cohort, among the lowest globally. The five-year rate for the 2019 cohort was 36.6 per cent, marking the third straight year it has stayed below 40 per cent. This is partly due to the collective work of the Care Network, said Mr Tong, at the Care Network Summit and Correctional Practice and Research Symposium on July 24 at Parkroyal Collection Marina Bay. Recidivism refers to the tendency of an inmate to reoffend. The network was set up in 2000 to encourage partners who provide aftercare and other services for inmates, ex-offenders and their families to work together. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. 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These include Yellow Ribbon Singapore, Singapore After-Care Association and Life Community Services Society. Mr Tong said that Singapore is often seen as a country with tough laws and a strict system, but it is equally invested and puts a lot of weight on aftercare, integration and rehabilitation of ex-offenders. The Care Network, which marks its 25th anniversary in 2025, wants to put in place more cross-sector mentorship programmes, allowing officers from the Singapore Prison Service and staff from community partners to be seconded to different organisations to share knowledge and best practices. A steering committee will also look into the best way to optimise resources and assess whether some initiatives should pivot to better meet beneficiaries' needs. New partnerships will also be fostered to expand support and opportunities. For instance, in 2024, the Industrial and Services Co-operative Society Limited teamed up with the Institute of Singapore Chartered Accountants to offer financial literacy workshops for ex-offenders and their families. In his speech, Mr Tong said that the network has strengthened volunteer training , with 40 courses now available in areas like family work, managing addiction, and restorative practice. The network now ha s more than 4,000 volunteers. Throughcare support for inmates, which refers to the support provided to individuals both during and after their time in custody, has also improved over the years. In 2019, SPS introduced the Throughcare Volunteer Framework, to allow volunteers who have been supporting inmates while they are in prison to continue to do so after they have been released. The initiative now has more than 1,900 volunteers supporting ex-offenders. SPS also launched the Desistor Network in 2023 to give ex-offenders a platform to give back and help others turn away from a life of crime and drugs. Currently more than 100 desistors volunteer their time to support and share their experiences with inmates and other ex-offenders. One of them is 38-year-old Nur Azlina Zulkifli, who began using drugs at 12 and continued for over a decade. In 2012, at the age of 25, she was caught by the authorities and sent to the Drug Rehabilitation Centre. She relapsed in 2019 and was detained again. 'I think the reason I relapsed was because I did not have a support system when I was first released. My parents are conservative and strict, and I did not talk to anyone else about it because I felt ashamed,' she said. After her second incarceration, she realised she needed more support to help her work through the emotional struggles of quitting an addiction. She joined a community programme by the Singapore Anti-Narcotics Association (Sana), and continued to volunteer there after finishing it, to help other ex-offenders. Ms Azlina, who works as a senior project manager now, started her own peer support group for ex-offenders named Ultimate Friends SG. She visits halfway houses and liaises with other organisations to look for ex-offenders that may be interested in joining the group. The initiative has grown from 10 people when it first started to 60 as of July. 'I think having support like this can really affect whether someone chooses to reoffend,' she said.
CNA
30-06-2025
- Business
- CNA
‘A pioneering figure': Former NUS law school dean Thio Su Mien dies at 86
SINGAPORE: Dr Thio Su Mien, the first female dean of the National University of Singapore (NUS) law faculty and co-founder of TSMP Law Corporation, died on Monday (Jun 30) at the age of 86. In a statement, TSMP called her a "pioneering figure" in Singapore's legal landscape and lauded her "trailblazing role" in legal academia. "The partners of TSMP Law Corporation are deeply saddened to announce the passing of our esteemed founder Dr Thio Su Mien. Dr Thio's contributions to the profession and society have left an indelible mark," said the boutique law firm. "Dr Thio's legacy as a legal educator, practitioner, and advocate will be remembered by colleagues, students and the broader legal community." Born in 1938, Dr Thio was among the first batch of law students at the University of Malaya, now known as NUS. She graduated in 1961 and later served as dean of the university's law school from 1969 to 1971. In a Facebook post on Monday, Minister for Law Edwin Tong paid tribute to Dr Thio, calling her a 'respected figure' in Singapore's legal profession. Expressing sadness over her death, Mr Tong noted that Dr Thio had "set the highest standard for excellence, integrity and dedication to the profession throughout her career". He pointed out that she was not just the first Singaporean female dean of NUS Law, but also the youngest to take on that role back then. "Dr Thio was a role model to many of us," wrote the minister. "She led by example, with an impeccable work ethic, leaving a legacy and a sterling example for many female lawyers after her, proving that both women and men can excel and contribute immensely and on equal terms in the legal field and to the society at large and beyond." Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam also said in an Instagram post that Dr Thio's death was "a sad day for the profession". CO-FOUNDER OF LAW FIRM TSMP After her time in academia, Dr Thio entered private practice. She joined Drew & Napier, heading its corporate department as senior partner and later became its managing partner. Lawyer and opposition politician Lim Tean, who joined Drew & Napier in 1990, took to Facebook to express his condolences to her family. 'I will remember her as an extremely kind person and someone totally unafraid to wear her faith on her sleeve,' he wrote. In 1998, Dr Thio and Ms Tan Bee Lian co-founded Thio Su Mien & Partners, now known as TSMP Law Corporation. According to the firm, she seeded its pro bono initiatives, deciding early on that 10 per cent of the partnership's profits should be donated to the less privileged. Its lawyers also currently commit to 25 hours of pro bono work annually. She is survived by her son, senior counsel and TSMP joint managing director Thio Shen Yi, as well as two daughters, NUS law professor and former nominated Member of Parliament Thio Li Ann, and Ms Thio Chi Ann.
Singapore Law Watch
27-06-2025
- Politics
- Singapore Law Watch
Responsible public speech is part of a cohesive society: Edwin Tong
Responsible public speech is part of a cohesive society: Edwin Tong Source: Straits Times Article Date: 27 Jun 2025 Author: Chin Soo Fang Be especially mindful about hateful speech as conflict can be set off by words: Minister. In a cohesive society, people understand the impact of their words and take responsibility for what they say publicly, including in online spaces, Mr Edwin Tong said on June 26. 'Sometimes, this will mean sacrificing our own desire to be able to say what we want about anything we want, wherever we want, in favour of being more caring about the impact they have on the person next to us,' he added. Mr Tong, who is Law Minister, noted that people should be especially mindful about hateful speech, as conflict can be triggered by words. 'If we are more mindful, we will have more open, honest, public discourse, based on facts and not hate and disinformation,' he said. He was speaking at the close of the three-day International Conference on Cohesive Societies held at Raffles City Convention Centre. It was organised by the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies and supported by the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth, of which Mr Tong was formerly minister. Addressing more than 1,000 people, including thought leaders, policymakers and young leaders from over 50 countries, the minister shared his thoughts on how societies can stay cohesive and multicultural amid challenges, such as conflicts, trade tensions and disinformation. One way to build cohesion is to remember that multiculturalism is not a natural state but a continuous and intentional work in progress, he said. 'We must always glance behind us, behind our backs, and wonder whether it could be taken away from us,' he said. 'We must always have that slight nervousness about it, and then we will seek to jealously guard it and protect it.' There must also be a combination of good leadership and citizen support. 'Government policies are useful, and they put in place the framework, but it has to be the people who breathe life into these ideals, who practise them every day,' he said. To this end, some degree of social intervention is needed, he said, citing Singapore's integrated living spaces, where people of all races and religions live, eat and grow up together. The responsibility to shape and nurture this cohesive society will increasingly fall on young people, he added. More than 200 young leaders attended the conference – nearly double the number compared with the last conference in 2022. This group plays a big role in intergenerational bonding, Mr Tong said. 'It is one thing to connect with people of your own generation, but it is much harder to do so across generations.' Everyone must have an open heart to see across differences, foster shared ideas and build hopes with people who are different, he added. 'We should never weaponise race and religion,' he said. 'It is so easy to do, but its impact is so long-lasting, and it breaks the trust that we all seek to foster.' Other speakers at the conference included President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and Sultan Nazrin Shah, Sultan of Perak and Deputy Yang di-Pertuan Agong of Malaysia. The conference was first held in 2019 to provide an international platform for interfaith and multicultural dialogue, where participants could exchange ideas and develop solutions to create cohesive and resilient multicultural societies. This year's conference coincides with Singapore's diamond jubilee, Mr Tong noted. The Republic consciously adopted multiculturalism as a core value, and built a national identity while keeping the individual qualities of different communities, he said. He added: 'I believe that multiculturalism lies at the heart of the Singapore story. Sixty years ago, as a newly independent nation with a highly diverse population, we were very conscious of our differences, but we decided to form the country that embraced the differences, not in spite of but because of the differences, to make ourselves stronger.' Chin Soo Fang is senior correspondent at The Straits Times covering topics such as community, politics, social issues, consumer, culture and heritage. Source: The Straits Times © SPH Media Limited. Permission required for reproduction. Print
AsiaOne
27-06-2025
- Politics
- AsiaOne
Responsible public speech is part of a cohesive society: Edwin Tong, Singapore News
SINGAPORE - In a cohesive society, people understand the impact of their words and take responsibility for what they say publicly, including in online spaces, Edwin Tong said on June 26. "Sometimes, this will mean sacrificing our own desire to be able to say what we want about anything we want, wherever we want, in favour of being more caring about the impact they have on the person next to us," he added. Tong, who is Law Minister, noted that people should be especially mindful about hateful speech, as conflict can be triggered by words. "If we are more mindful, we will have more open, honest, public discourse, based on facts and not hate and disinformation," he said. He was speaking at the close of the three-day International Conference on Cohesive Societies held at Raffles City Convention Centre. It was organised by the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies and supported by the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth, of which Tong was formerly minister. Addressing more than 1,000 people, including thought leaders, policymakers and young leaders from over 50 countries, the minister shared his thoughts on how societies can stay cohesive and multicultural amid challenges, such as conflicts, trade tensions and disinformation. One way to build cohesion is to remember that multiculturalism is not a natural state but a continuous and intentional work in progress, he said. "We must always glance behind us, behind our backs, and wonder whether it could be taken away from us," he said. "We must always have that slight nervousness about it, and then we will seek to jealously guard it and protect it." There must also be a combination of good leadership and citizen support. "Government policies are useful, and they put in place the framework, but it has to be the people who breathe life into these ideals, who practise them every day," he said. To this end, some degree of social intervention is needed, he said, citing Singapore's integrated living spaces, where people of all races and religions live, eat and grow up together. The responsibility to shape and nurture this cohesive society will increasingly fall on young people, he added. More than 200 young leaders attended the conference - nearly double the number compared with the last conference in 2022. This group plays a big role in intergenerational bonding, Tong said. "It is one thing to connect with people of your own generation, but it is much harder to do so across generations." Everyone must have an open heart to see across differences, foster shared ideas and build hopes with people who are different, he added. "We should never weaponise race and religion," he said. "It is so easy to do, but its impact is so long-lasting, and it breaks the trust that we all seek to foster." Other speakers at the conference included President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and Sultan Nazrin Shah, Sultan of Perak and Deputy Yang di-Pertuan Agong of Malaysia. The conference was first held in 2019 to provide an international platform for interfaith and multicultural dialogue, where participants could exchange ideas and develop solutions to create cohesive and resilient multicultural societies. This year's conference coincides with Singapore's diamond jubilee, Tong noted. The Republic consciously adopted multiculturalism as a core value, and built a national identity while keeping the individual qualities of different communities, he said. He added: "I believe that multiculturalism lies at the heart of the Singapore story. Sixty years ago, as a newly independent nation with a highly diverse population, we were very conscious of our differences, but we decided to form the country that embraced the differences, not in spite of but because of the differences, to make ourselves stronger." [[nid:718347]] This article was first published in The Straits Times . Permission required for reproduction.
