Empowering Public in Role as First Responder or as Part of Peer Support Group to Help Detect and Assist Survivors of Family Violence in Community

Mr Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim asked the Minister for Social and Family Development whether the Ministry can consider a public awareness campaign where members of the public can get various training to obtain information and knowledge on how to detect and assist survivors of family violence in the community, in the role of a first responder or as part of a peer support group.

MSF has invested in family violence-related public education efforts over the years. The Break the Silence campaign, launched in 2016, was refreshed in November last year to unpack the different types of abuse, including psychological, emotional and sexual abuse, so that members of the public can more easily identify violence and seek help. MSF’s Break the Silence webpage (go.gov.sg/breakthesilence) provides more information on the signs of family violence and where survivors of violence can seek help.

As part of our public education efforts, MSF produced and broadcasted posters and videos on the signs of family violence and help resources on free-to-air television channels, as well as digital displays at HDB lift landings and MRT stations. To increase the reach of our public education messages, MSF also worked with digital media publishers, such as Our Grandfather Story, to produce videos and posts to raise greater awareness about family violence and how to assist survivors.

As part of the refreshed Break the Silence campaign, the Signal for Help hand signal was also introduced as an additional subtle mode of reporting by victims/survivors of family violence, if they are unable to seek help by calling the National Anti-Violence Helpline.

In addition, MSF has conducted Family Violence Awareness Training since 2018 to provide a basic understanding of the different types and forms of abuse and neglect. The aim is to equip participants with the skills to detect violence early and to provide an appropriate response. In 2021, MSF worked with 16 organisations across the people, public and private sectors, including educational institutions, grassroots organisations and religious organisations to train over 1,100 staff and volunteers. Earlier this month, MSF expanded the scope of the training and renamed it to Family and Domestic Violence Awareness Training to also raise awareness of violence that occurs in non-familial relationships, such as between intimate partners.

MSF’s public education efforts have contributed to more persons seeking help for family violence. The Family Violence Specialist Centres and Integrated Services for Individual and Family Protection Specialist Centre have received more enquiries about family violence: 2,906 enquiries in FY2018, compared to 4,574 enquiries in FY2020. This potentially includes cases that may have previously gone unreported.

MSF will continue expanding our outreach to more organisations, particularly partners that are likely to have direct contact with survivors of family violence or with groups that are at a higher risk of family and domestic violence. We welcome more organisations to step forward and partner us. Organisations may reach out to MSF through the link go.gov.sg/msfbreakthesilence.

Everyone can play a part in tackling family violence. We urge family members, neighbours and members of the public to call the National Anti-Violence Helpline at 1800-777-0000 if they are aware of or suspect cases of family violence.