New Preventative Measures to Address Family Violence at National Level

Mr Lee Hong Chuang asked the Minister for Social and Family Development in addition to the five key pieces of legislation in place to address family violence (a) whether the Ministry has implemented or is planning to implement new preventative measures to address family violence at national level; and (b) how these new preventative measures will enhance the effectiveness of family violence prevention, particularly in increasing public awareness and encouraging early reporting.

The Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) adopts two key strategies to detect and prevent domestic violence.

First, we focus on detecting and encouraging early reporting of domestic violence. As of March 2026, more than 12,500 people in various sectors have undergone the Domestic Violence Awareness Training to learn how to spot and report signs of domestic violence. The “Break the Silence” campaign raises public awareness of the different types of abuse, including non-physical abuse, and encourages victim-survivors and bystanders to seek help by calling the National Anti-Violence and Sexual Harassment Helpline. Early detection helps to identify cases before they escalate into higher safety and risk concerns.

Second, MSF provides early support and timely intervention to build family resilience to break cycles of abuse. For instance, Family Service Centres work with other professionals and agencies to support multi-stressed families. Social workers help families work through their challenges and develop safety plans to intervene quickly when early signs of abuse emerge.

MSF will continually review and refine our preventive measures and is exploring possible new preventive measures.