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MCYS believes that the family
is the basic building block of society. A close-knit, strong and stable
family is self-reliant and competent in the care and development of
its members.
While most families are
self-reliant in caring for and nurturing their members, there are
some families who need support and assistance from the community and
the government to cope with the issues and demands of daily living.
There are also some families who are beset with problems such as family violence and require intervention in resolving them.
MCYS plays a lead role
in supporting families at risk or in distress. It sets the policy
and service delivery frameworks for helping and protecting families
in dysfunction and those affected by violence. MCYS also leads in
its public education efforts to raise awareness of family violence
issues.
Taking the "Many
Helping Hands" approach, MCYS works in partnership with families
and the community to promote a safe, stable and nurturing family environment
for their members. MCYS plays the role of the enabler, believing that
families are able to help themselves and regain a suitable level of
functioning when given appropriate and adequate support and assistance.
This way, families do not develop a crutch mentality and are strengthened
to help themselves should problems recur. In the area of family protection,
we are guided by the principle that the safety and interest of the
children and individuals in the family are of paramount importance.
While we try to preserve the family unit where possible, safety issues
will not be compromised. Where families are dysfunctional and unsafe
for their members, children have to be removed from their families.
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Family Violence
Family
violence can occur in different forms.
The Women's Charter (Amendment) Bill 1996 defines family
violence as the commission of any of the following acts: |
- Wilfully
or knowingly placing or attempting to place a family*
member in fear or hurt;
- Causing hurt to
a family* member by such act which is known or ought to
have been known would result in hurt;
- Wrongly confining
or restraining a family* member against his / her will;
and
- Causing continual
harassment with intent to cause or knowing that it is
likely to cause anguish to a family* member.
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*A family member refers to a spouse or former spouse, child
(including adopted and step-child), parents, father or mother-in-law
and sibling.
Examples of violence in the family include acts of punching,
slapping, kicking, choking, hitting with objects, issue of threats,
intimidation and verbal abuse.
For more information, read "Love shouldn't hurt - Stop family violence".
Family Violence Networking Programme
The National Family Violence Networking System initiated by
MCYS is a collaboration between government and non-government
agencies to deal with family violence cases. The system helps
ensure that victims receive the appropriate and timely help
and advice for their safety and protection.
MCYS also works closely with other government and non-governmental
organisations to increase public awareness and concern about
the issue of family violence. The aim is to raise awareness
that family violence is not condoned in Singapore and to encourage
community participation in preventing and stopping family violence.
Mandatory Counselling
Programme
The Mandatory Counselling Programme aims to stop physical, emotional
or verbal abuse in the family by helping the perpetrator find
other ways of dealing with stress, anger or conflict without
resorting to hurt or violence. It provides help and support
victims of violence who need safety and protection from further
hurt.
MCYS is the intake agency for all cases ordered by the Court
to attend mandatory counselling. A Counselling Order (Section
65 of the Women's Charter) is usually made when the Family Court
issues a Personal Protection Order. It is an order for those
involved in family violence to attend a compulsory counselling
programme. MCYS works closely with social service agencies in
providing counselling services to these cases.
What is done in Mandatory Counselling?
Mandatory
counselling can be in the form of individual or group
counselling.
The following issues may be covered during the counselling
sessions: |
- What
is family violence?
- Understand how one's
background and family history relate to the violent behaviour.
- Basic Anger Management
- Stress Management
and Problem Solving
- Communication and
Assertiveness Training
- Safety Plans for
the Victims
- Marital / Family
Issues
- Impact of Family
Violence on Children
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Who can be ordered to
attend counselling?
The person against
whom a Personal Protection Order is issued and his / her family
members can be ordered to attend compulsory counselling sessions.
A family member according to the Women's Charter could be
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a spouse or an
ex-spouse;
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a child of the
person, including an adopted child or a step-child;
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a parent of the
person;
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| d) |
a parent-in-law
of the person
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| e) |
a sibling of the
person; or |
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any other relative
of the person or an incapacitated person whom the Court
regard as a member of the family of the person. |
What are the steps
involved in Mandatory Counselling ?
Step I : Provisional Counselling Order
The Family
Court issues a Provisional Counselling Order together with
a Personal Protection Order:
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person who has received a counselling order will be informed
of the following: |
- the
objectives of counselling;
- the procedure in
the Mandatory Counselling Programme; and
- the consequences
for not attending counselling.
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Step II : Pre-counselling
Assessment
The counsellor at MCYS or a counselling agency will notify
the person in writing, the date, time and venue for the first
appointment.
The counsellor will conduct assessment interviews with those
mandated. This assessment will be reported to the Family Court.
Step III: Mandatory
Counselling Order
The mandated person will then need to return to the Family
Court for mention according to the date and time stipulated
in the Provisional Counselling Order.
The presiding judge of the Family Court may make a Mandatory
Counselling Order based on the assessment report of the counselling
agency.
The mandated person would then continue with the counselling
agency or to another agency which MCYS may direct.
The Counselling Order may include a review date requiring
the mandated person to return to Court at a later date to
account for his / her progress in the counselling process.
Step IV: Counselling with Agency
The counsellor will discuss with the mandated person the
counselling objectives and plans, the agency's expectations
at these sessions, and the number of counselling sessions
to attend.
The counselling agency will conduct the counselling sessions
as required.
What if you
fail to attend Mandatory Counselling ?
A Counselling Order
is ordered by the Family Court.
Failure to attend
the counselling sessions scheduled by the counselling agency
will constitute a breach of the Counselling Order and will
be deemed as contempt of Court punishable by law.
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Positive Parenting
Programme (Triple P)
The Positive Parenting Programme or Triple P Programme is designed
to help parents promote children's development and manage children's
behaviour in a constructive and non-hurtful way. It is based
on good communication and positive attention to help children
develop. This programme has been conducted for parents of children
who are beyond parental control, child abuse cases, family violence
cases, as well as young mothers put on probation.
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Special Marriage License
MCYS processes
Special Marriage Licence applications for the marriage of persons
under the age of 18 years. To ensure that young couples have
given thorough thought to the notion of marriage, applicants
are interviewed and assessed for their suitability for marriage.
We also help couples realise the long-term responsibilities
and consequences of marriage and avert break-ups in the future
as far as possible. |
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Please refer to our latest publication, "Protecting Families from Violence: The Singapore Experience (2006)" for an overview of research, services, programmes and trends in family violence in Singapore.
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