No. S 179
Women’s Charter
(Chapter 353)
Women’s Charter (Protection of Women and Girls) (Amendment) Rules 1997
In exercise of the powers conferred by section 180(1) of the Women’s Charter, the Minister for Community Development hereby makes the following Rules:
Citation and commencement
1.  These Rules may be cited as the Women’s Charter (Protection of Women and Girls) (Amendment) Rules 1997 and shall come into operation on 1st May 1997.
Amendment of rule 2
2.  Rule 2 of the Women’s Charter (Protection of Women and Girls) Rules (R 2) (referred to in these Rules as the principal Rules) is amended by deleting the words “the Board” in the definition of “Board” and substituting the words “a Board”.
Amendment of rule 3
3.  Rule 3 of the principal Rules is amended by deleting paragraph (1) and substituting the following paragraph:
(1)  The Board shall consist of such number of persons as the Minister may determine.”.
Deletion and substitution of rule 7
4.  Rule 7 of the principal Rules is deleted and the following rule substituted therefor:
Chairman of Board
7.—(1)  The Chairman shall be appointed by the Minister from amongst the members of the Board.
(2)  The Chairman shall preside at all meetings of the Board.”.
Deletion and substitution of rule 9
5.  Rule 9 of the principal Rules is deleted and the following rule substituted therefor:
Secretary to Board
9.—(1)  The Chairman shall appoint a Secretary to the Board.
(2)  The Secretary shall not be a member of the Board and shall not be entitled to vote at a meeting of the Board.”.
Deletion and substitution of rule 12
6.  Rule 12 of the principal Rules is deleted and the following rule substituted therefor:
Quorum
12.—(1)  The quorum at every meeting of the Board shall be half the total number of members of the Board, and shall include the Chairman or the Deputy Chairman.
(2)  No business shall be transacted or discussed at a meeting of the Board unless a quorum is present.”.
Amendment of rule 22
7.  Rule 22 of the principal Rules is amended by inserting, immediately after the words “place of safety” in the fifth line, the words “or at such earlier time as he considers necessary”.
Amendment of rule 24
8.  Rule 24(1) of the principal Rules is amended by deleting “7 members all of whom shall be appointed by the Minister” in the second line and substituting the words “such number of members as the Minister may determine”.
Amendment of rule 25
9.  Rule 25(2) of the principal Rules is amended —
(a)by deleting the word “from” in the third line and substituting the word “of”; and
(b)by deleting the words “, and shall provide the girl on discharge or release on parole licence, with sufficient wearing apparel” in the fourth, fifth and sixth lines.
Amendment of rule 26
10.  Rule 26 of the principal Rules is amended —
(a)by deleting paragraph (1) and substituting the following paragraph:
(1)  The Discharge Committee shall satisfy itself that adequate arrangements are made for the aftercare of every girl released on parole licence from a place of safety for a minimum period of one year or until she attains the age of 21 years, whichever is the earlier.”;
(b)by deleting the words “discharged or” in paragraph (2); and
(c)by deleting the marginal note and substituting the following marginal note:
Girls released on parole licence”.
Amendment of rule 30
11.  Rule 30(2) of the principal Rules is amended by deleting the words “and shall be signed by the Chairman or the Deputy Chairman presiding at the meeting” in the fourth and fifth lines and substituting the words “if the Board so requires”.
Deletion and substitution of rule 32
12.  Rule 32 of the principal Rules is deleted and the following rule substituted therefor:
Leave of absence of superintendent
32.  The superintendent shall, before leaving the place of safety for a period of more than 24 hours, designate another member of the staff of the place of safety to carry out the duties of the superintendent in her absence.”.
Deletion of rules 34, 35 and 36 and substitution of rules 34 and 35
13.  Rules 34, 35 and 36 of the principal Rules are deleted and the following rules substituted therefor:
Clothing
34.  Every girl in a place of safety shall be supplied with her own set of clothing and such other personal effects as may be necessary for her stay in the place of safety.
Food
35.—(1)  Every girl in a place of safety shall be supplied with food that is based on the recommendation of a dietician.
(2)  Every recommendation referred to in paragraph (1) and every amendment made to the recommendation shall be subject to the approval of the Director.”.
Deletion and substitution of rule 49
14.  Rule 49 of the principal Rules is deleted and the following rule substituted therefor:
Excursions
49.  The superintendent may from time to time organise any excursion for the girls in the place of safety.”.
Amendment of rule 56
15.  Rule 56 of the principal Rules is amended by deleting the word “swimming” at the end thereof and substituting the words “sports activities”.
Amendment of rule 59
16.  Rule 59 of the principal Rules is amended —
(a)by deleting the words “3 strokes” in paragraph (a) and substituting the words “8 strokes”; and
(b)by deleting paragraphs (b) and (c).
[G.N. No. S 71/94]
Made this 28th day of March 1997.
ER KWONG WAH
Permanent Secretary,
Ministry of Community Development,
Singapore.
[MCD 76-02-01 Vol. 22; AG/SL/24/95]
(To be presented to Parliament under section 180(2) of the Women’s Charter).