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Launch of the support centre for women victims of violence within the French expatriate community in Singapore

On this International Human Rights Day, the Law Society of Singapore, the Paris Bar and the Embassy of France to Singapore are proud to announce the official launch of the very first support centre dedicated to women victims of violence within the French expatriate community in Singapore. The centre will be staffed by volunteer lawyers from the Solidarity Paris Bar, who are practising primarily in Singapore, and the Law Society Pro Bono Services.

The purpose of this centre is to provide a safe and confidential place for women victims of all types of violence, where they can talk to a lawyer from the Paris Bar who is specially trained to provide initial legal advice on French law issues and, more broadly, to act as a "support centre", since it is designed to provide initial practical information and referrals to other appropriate sources of support (including counselling, accommodation, etc., through a network of associations and professionals designed for the project).

A volunteer lawyer from the Law Society Pro Bono Services will also be available by phone to provide legal advice on the law and procedures in Singapore, to complement this and promote greater access to law. On 25 November 2021, on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, the volunteer lawyers gathered for a practical briefing session in preparation for the opening of the support center by the two Bars.

The centre will be held every 1st Friday and 3rd Tuesday of the month, between 12 noon and 2 pm in dedicated premises within the Help Centre of the State Courts located at 1 Havelock Square, State Courts, Singapore 059724, #B1-18, with or without appointment.

In summary, please find below the key practical information to remember when using the Help Centre as a user:

• When: Every 1st Friday and 3rd Tuesday of the month, between noon and 2pm
• Where: Help Centre located at #B1-18, 1 Havelock Square, State Courts, Singapore 059724
• How: Free of charge with or without appointment. To make an appointment, we invite you to fill in the form available on the following page: https://form.jotform.com/213391267710049
• What: Initial legal assistance in French law and, if needed, in Singaporean law, by volunteer lawyers, on all types of violence, including domestic violence
• Who: Any woman who is a victim of violence and who belong to the French expatriate community in Singapore, or who has a family tie in that community
• For any question, including confidential ones: barreausolidarite(@)avocatparis.org

As a reminder, in case of emergency, these are the numbers available at any time:

• Police: 999
• Fire brigade (Ambulance) : 995
• Consular hotline - Only in case of emergency (personal injury, arrest, etc.): (+65) 9816 6364: sg.ambafrance.org

About the Law Society of Singapore

The Law Society of Singapore was established in 1967 under the Legal Profession Act. It carries out various statutory functions prescribed under the Act, including maintaining and improving the standards of conduct and learning of the legal profession in Singapore, the facilitation of the acquisition of legal knowledge by members of the legal profession, and protecting and assisting the public in all matters ancillary or incidental to the law.

About Law Society Pro Bono Services

Law Society Pro Bono Services is a Singapore-registered charity with IPC status. Its mission is to enable access to justice for all through legal awareness, advice and advocacy. Its programmes provide legal assistance to individuals in need as well as other community organisations that serve the needy and disadvantaged. With its programmes and vast network, it is also well equipped to develop new pro bono programmes to meet emerging needs in the community and support volunteers who are interested in pro bono legal work.

About the Paris Bar

The Paris Bar, one of the largest Bar in Europe, with more than 30,000 lawyers out of nearly 70,000 in France and hundreds of law firms from all around the world, contributes to making Paris a global legal centre. With a rich history spanning several centuries, it is chaired by the Bâtonnier and Vice-Bâtonnier of the Bar, who represent and speak for the Parisian lawyers in their dealings with the general public and the public authorities.

Alongside the Council of the Bar, which consists of 42 elected lawyers, the Bâtonnier and Vice-Bâtonnier of the Paris Bar deal with issues concerning the legal profession, its organisation and future, as well as justice and its administration, the protection of human rights, respect for public freedoms, and access to law and justice for all.

About the Barreau de Paris Solidarité

Set up in 2011 by the Paris Bar Association, The Barreau de Paris Solidarité’s mission is to increase access to the law, legal culture, humanitarian law, respect for the individual and protection of the environment. The philosophy of Paris Bar Solidarity, which is based on the human right to a lawyer and on the impartiality enshrined in the lawyer’s oath of office, therefore translates into civic engagement and solidarity.

About the French Embassy to Singapore

The French Embassy in Singapore is monitoring the bilateral relations between France and Singapore on all major political, economic, cultural, academic, scientific defense and security issues as well as major multilateral issues, such as climate change and international financial regulation. The privileged links between Singapore and France have led us to discuss important sectors for the future, such as digital revolution, sustainable city, connectivity, industry of the future and health. These are promising prospects for exchanges and collaborations between our two countries, which the Embassy of France  encourages, promotes and supports by continuing to initiate them and manage the French team in Singapore.

The French Embassy in Singapore is also taking care of  more than 14,000 French nationals living in Singapore, this French community being one of the largest in Asia. This important mission also involves representatives and associations of French nationals, the French Chamber of Commerce, the French Foreign Trade Advisors, the Alliance Française and the French Schools in Singapore.