Every Child Deserves Protection from Family Violence
The Issue
A call for Singapore to recognise children affected by family violence, strengthen safeguarding, and put children’s safety first.
Why This Matters
Family violence does not always leave visible injuries. It can take the form of physical assaults, threats, intimidation, humiliation, emotional abuse and coercive control.
For children growing up in these environments, the harm may not always be obvious. They may witness violence, hear threats, live in fear or experience the effects of abuse directed at their mothers.
Children do not have to be the direct targets of abuse to be affected by it.
—————
Consider these experiences shared by mothers:
May (not her real name) was holding her young daughter when her husband pushed her to the floor during an argument. He had previously strangled and hit her on two occasions, both in front of their daughter.
Nadirah (not her real name) was carrying her one-month-old baby when her husband strangled her. The baby did not cry. Nadirah managed to break free. This was not an isolated incident. On other occasions, her husband had kicked and shoved her.
Indranee (not her real name) was strangled by her husband while their six-year-old daughter was lying on a mattress nearby. Although the violence was not directed at her daughter, the child experienced significant distress following the incident.
These are examples of physical violence. But what about the harm that cannot be seen?
Research shows that children exposed to family violence can experience short- and long-term effects on their emotional wellbeing, mental health, learning, relationships and development — even when they are not directly assaulted.
This includes exposure to non-physical abuse, such as persistent intimidation, threats and coercive control.
Singapore’s Women’s Charter, under Section 58B, recognises emotional and psychological abuse as forms of family violence and provides for circumstances where a person may experience abuse even when the conduct is not directed at them.
The recognition exists in our law. We are calling for it to translate into stronger, more consistent safeguarding in practice.
Children should not have to suffer physical injury or show visible signs of trauma before their safety and wellbeing are taken seriously.
——————
What We’re Calling For
1. Recognise children affected by family violence as victims in their own right.
Children who experience the effects of family violence must have their own needs for protection, support and recovery recognised, even without direct physical injury or visible signs of trauma.
2. Recognise violence against mothers as a child safeguarding concern.
Abuse against a mother must automatically raise safeguarding concerns for her children, even when they are not directly targeted. This includes physical, psychological, emotional and coercive abuse.
3. Make child safeguarding proactive, not merely reactive.
Where there is credible evidence or reasonable concern of family violence, risks to children must be assessed and addressed, with clear responsibility for taking appropriate protective action. Children should not have to suffer further harm before intervention is considered.
4. Put children’s safety, wellbeing and recovery first in every decision.
Where family violence has been identified, decisions about protection, care, custody and parental contact must begin with the child’s individual safety, developmental and recovery needs.
These needs must guide decisions, not be secondary to arrangements between adults.
—————
Our Call
We call for greater recognition of children affected by family violence and stronger, more consistent safeguarding practices across Singapore’s child protection and family justice systems.
We urge the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) and the Family Justice Courts to strengthen the recognition of children’s individual safety, wellbeing and recovery needs, and ensure these remain central to assessments, interventions and decisions affecting their lives.
Recognise the risks. Prevent further harm. Put children first.
Every child deserves a safe childhood.
——————
About MASC
Mothers Advocating Safer Childhoods (MASC) @saferchildhoods.sg is a Singapore-based organisation dedicated to creating safer childhoods by supporting mothers and advocating for child-centred justice.
We recognise that family violence can affect people of all genders, including fathers. We also recognise that women are disproportionately affected by certain forms of intimate partner violence, particularly severe and repeated abuse.
MASC’s work focuses on the interconnected relationship between a mother’s safety and her child’s safety and wellbeing, recognising that protecting mothers from family violence is also an important part of safeguarding children.
Every child deserves a safe childhood.
——————
Are you a mother who has experienced or is experiencing family violence?
We invite you to contribute to our research on family violence and child safeguarding in Singapore.
Participation is voluntary, and you may choose to share your experiences anonymously.
Interested in contributing? Registration of Interest as Research Participant
*Please do not include identifying details or sensitive information in public petition comments. Research participation is separate from signing this petition.
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The Issue
A call for Singapore to recognise children affected by family violence, strengthen safeguarding, and put children’s safety first.
Why This Matters
Family violence does not always leave visible injuries. It can take the form of physical assaults, threats, intimidation, humiliation, emotional abuse and coercive control.
For children growing up in these environments, the harm may not always be obvious. They may witness violence, hear threats, live in fear or experience the effects of abuse directed at their mothers.
Children do not have to be the direct targets of abuse to be affected by it.
—————
Consider these experiences shared by mothers:
May (not her real name) was holding her young daughter when her husband pushed her to the floor during an argument. He had previously strangled and hit her on two occasions, both in front of their daughter.
Nadirah (not her real name) was carrying her one-month-old baby when her husband strangled her. The baby did not cry. Nadirah managed to break free. This was not an isolated incident. On other occasions, her husband had kicked and shoved her.
Indranee (not her real name) was strangled by her husband while their six-year-old daughter was lying on a mattress nearby. Although the violence was not directed at her daughter, the child experienced significant distress following the incident.
These are examples of physical violence. But what about the harm that cannot be seen?
Research shows that children exposed to family violence can experience short- and long-term effects on their emotional wellbeing, mental health, learning, relationships and development — even when they are not directly assaulted.
This includes exposure to non-physical abuse, such as persistent intimidation, threats and coercive control.
Singapore’s Women’s Charter, under Section 58B, recognises emotional and psychological abuse as forms of family violence and provides for circumstances where a person may experience abuse even when the conduct is not directed at them.
The recognition exists in our law. We are calling for it to translate into stronger, more consistent safeguarding in practice.
Children should not have to suffer physical injury or show visible signs of trauma before their safety and wellbeing are taken seriously.
——————
What We’re Calling For
1. Recognise children affected by family violence as victims in their own right.
Children who experience the effects of family violence must have their own needs for protection, support and recovery recognised, even without direct physical injury or visible signs of trauma.
2. Recognise violence against mothers as a child safeguarding concern.
Abuse against a mother must automatically raise safeguarding concerns for her children, even when they are not directly targeted. This includes physical, psychological, emotional and coercive abuse.
3. Make child safeguarding proactive, not merely reactive.
Where there is credible evidence or reasonable concern of family violence, risks to children must be assessed and addressed, with clear responsibility for taking appropriate protective action. Children should not have to suffer further harm before intervention is considered.
4. Put children’s safety, wellbeing and recovery first in every decision.
Where family violence has been identified, decisions about protection, care, custody and parental contact must begin with the child’s individual safety, developmental and recovery needs.
These needs must guide decisions, not be secondary to arrangements between adults.
—————
Our Call
We call for greater recognition of children affected by family violence and stronger, more consistent safeguarding practices across Singapore’s child protection and family justice systems.
We urge the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) and the Family Justice Courts to strengthen the recognition of children’s individual safety, wellbeing and recovery needs, and ensure these remain central to assessments, interventions and decisions affecting their lives.
Recognise the risks. Prevent further harm. Put children first.
Every child deserves a safe childhood.
——————
About MASC
Mothers Advocating Safer Childhoods (MASC) @saferchildhoods.sg is a Singapore-based organisation dedicated to creating safer childhoods by supporting mothers and advocating for child-centred justice.
We recognise that family violence can affect people of all genders, including fathers. We also recognise that women are disproportionately affected by certain forms of intimate partner violence, particularly severe and repeated abuse.
MASC’s work focuses on the interconnected relationship between a mother’s safety and her child’s safety and wellbeing, recognising that protecting mothers from family violence is also an important part of safeguarding children.
Every child deserves a safe childhood.
——————
Are you a mother who has experienced or is experiencing family violence?
We invite you to contribute to our research on family violence and child safeguarding in Singapore.
Participation is voluntary, and you may choose to share your experiences anonymously.
Interested in contributing? Registration of Interest as Research Participant
*Please do not include identifying details or sensitive information in public petition comments. Research participation is separate from signing this petition.
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Petition created on 12 October 2026