The Singapore Family Physician

Back to issue Vol 37 No. 1 - Managing Family Violence

Management of Child Abuse in Singapore

Goh Lee Gan
The Singapore Family Physician Vol 37 No 1 - Managing Family Violence
17 - 24
1 January 2011
0377-5305
Child abuse and neglect happens across all social, economic and cultural groups. All of us including government, community and public need to play a part in ensuring that children are protected from harm. Suspected child abuse cases are reported to the Child Protection Service or the Police. Inquiry to confirm the report is indeed child abuse and the level of protection required will be activated. The lead agency in child protection in Singapore is the Child Protection Service (CPS) under the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports (MCYS) and the duties are spelt out in the Children and Young Persons Act. MCYS protects children from ill-treatment through effective detection, incisive investigations, and rehabilitation of perpetrators. Abused or neglected children are placed under a care programme to help them through the trauma of their experience. wherever possible, the family unit is assisted to provide a more positive and caring setting for the continued upbringing of the child.